10 Sexual Abuse Of Animal Charges Filed By Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA — An investigation into the report of a Spotsylvania man meeting with an underage girl resulted in authorities charging him with 10 counts of sexual abuse of animals, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office.

On Monday, investigators from the sheriff office's Child Victim’s Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Unit obtained search warrants and reviewed items that the reporting party had received. Based on that, they arrested Jason Zirkle II, charging him with 10 counts of the sexual abuse of animals; produces, distributes, publishes, sells, transmits, finances, possesses, or possesses with the intent to distribute, publish, sell, or transmit an obscene item depicting a person engaged in sexual contact with an animal; and one count of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children, according to the sheriff's office.

Zirkle was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in the Spotsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, according to court documents. He remains in custody.

"Any person convicted of violating this section shall be prohibited by the court from possessing, owning, or exercising control over any animal," according to the section in the Virginia Code addressing the 10 sexual abuse of animal charges. "Additionally, the court may order such person to attend an appropriate treatment program or obtain psychiatric or psychological counseling and may impose the costs of such a program or counseling upon the person convicted."

The using communication systems to proposition a child 15 and under charge is a Class 5 felony. If convicted on this charge, Zirkle faces a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison or up to 12 months in jail with a fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.

"Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is a member of the NOVA-DC Internet Crimes Against Children Virginia State Police Taskforce," according to the incident report. "ICAC is a national network of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies that helps state and local agencies respond to online child exploitation and other crimes.

"Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office works closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

"If you believe a child is being abused, please contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office at the numbers below, the Spotsylvania County Department of Social Services at 540-507-7898, Virginia CPS State Hotline at 804-786-8536/Out-of-state: 800-552-7096, or The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)."