EXCLUSIVE: Bestiality investigation leads to man's arrest in Rice Village

HOUSTON – An early-morning Valentine’s Day arrest and search warrant, run by the Houston Police Department's Major Offenders Livestock and Animal Cruelty Unit in the Rice Village area as part of a bestiality investigation, resulted in a man's arrest.

The man, identified by Houston police as 31-year-old Juan Pablo Tschen, did not have anything to say as Channel 2 Investigates asked him questions while he was being led away in handcuffs from his parents' home in the 2200 block of Southgate near Rice Village.

Sgt. Jason Aldrete, the supervisor who oversees the unit, said the suspect is accused of offering his pets up for a sexual relationship with one of the unit's female officers.

"He approached an undercover officer and offered his animals, his dogs, up for sexual relations with an undercover officer and himself," Aldrete told Channel 2 Investigates' Mario Diaz.

Officers also searched Tschen's house in the 2700 block of Amherst in West University Place. They arrested Tschen at one of the properties.

The second property was under renovation, and investigators tell KPRC2 Tschen lived at that home.

Officers said one of the dogs that he offered to the undercover officer for a sexual relationship via text and in person was a German shepherd.

BARC confirmed three dogs belonging to the family were confiscated:

• Bo, a male, black and fawn German shepherd, who is around 4 years old
• Sayhass, a male, tricolor Jack Russell terrior mix, who is around 3 years old
• Mozzie, a male, brindle and white Australian shepherd mix, who is around 2 years old

A family spokesperson told KPRC2, "Juan Pablo is a loving brother and son. We believe the facts will show that there has been a big mistake and that the allegations against him are completely false."

Investigators told KPRC2 Tschen is not cooperating.

The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation, according to Aldrete.

“It’s an ultra-underground scene, so we don’t know how deep this goes,” he said. 

However, he and his team told KPRC2 there are many more people involved.

"We're conducting a similar investigation involving bestiality with another couple of people," Aldrete said. "We believe there is a large group of people in the Houston area and the state and the country that are involved in bestiality."

Although treated as animal abuse in the past, bestiality only became a criminal act in recent years.

Tschen is facing three counts of bestiality, according to Aldrete.

“It’s a very demented crime," he said. "It’s really sad, and I really hope that the man can get the help he needs.”

Neighbors are shocked by the disturbing allegations, but not so much over where it happened. 
 
"Oh geez. That's unbelievable," said one neighbor. "I'm not surprised. It occurs anywhere."
 
HPD investigators echo those thoughts
 
"These are people from everyday walks of life. Seemingly normal people, many of them well-educated and they are involved in this," Aldrete said.