A US deputy director for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was arrested yesterday on sex charges involving a minor and an animal.

The charges against Dr Kimberly Lindsey, 44, a deputy director of the Laboratory Science Policy and Practice Program Office in Atlanta, relate to incidents involving a six-year-old boy. She was charged with two counts of child molestation and bestiality, according to police.

Her boyfriend, Thomas Westerman, is also charged with two counts of child molestation. Mr Westerman, 42, works for the CDC as a night watchman, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dr Lindsey and Mr Westerman allegedly made the child take part in sex play.

Dr Lindsey was booked into the DeKalb County Jail at approximately 3pm local time on Sunday and is being held on $25,000 bond.

Mr Westerman was released on a $16,000 bond.

Read more at myFOXatlanta.com.