Sexual Predator Arrested Twice in One Week for Animal Cruelty: Deputies

Animal Control had responded to Lyons' address and removed two dogs, a pit bull and a terrier mix.

A registered sexual predator has been arrested for the second time in one week for cruelty to animals and sexual activities involving animals, authorities said.

James Lee Lyons, 52 of St. Augustine, was arrested Thursday after Animal Control found two dogs at his residence, which broke the conditions ordered by a judge after his arrest last week, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said.

Lyons was arrested last week for animal cruelty and sexual activity involving an animal after a neighbor found injuries on one of his dogs, authorities said. Lyons had the neighbor that he found the dog, authorities said. After examining the dog, a veterinarian suspected animal abuse and bestiality. Lyons was arrested and later released on an $11,000 bond.

Later, Animal Control had responded to Lyons' address and removed two dogs, a pit bull and a terrier mix. The pit bull wasn't injured, but the 42-pound terrier mix was injured, authorities said. Lyons had told deputies that she was a stray, the sheriff's office said.

The veterinarian who examined that dog told deputies that she "suffered a great amount of pain."

After her treatment, she will be cared for by County Animal Control until she gets put up for adoption. The pit bull will also be available for rescue, the sheriff's office said.

Lyons also failed to register as a sexual predator, the sheriff's office said. Deputies said he had been living at this residence since the beginning of the year. But during that time, he was registered at a St. Augustine Shores address. It was only after his arrest last week that Lyons registered the new address, the sheriff's office said.

He was taken to jail Thursday and was later released on $61,000 bond.

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