Gresham man’s online photos lead to animal abuse charges

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, May 1, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Brandon Vongthongthrip

Contributed photo

A Gresham man is being held on $1.5 million bail on allegations he sexually abused his pet pit bull for five years, and posted photos of the abuse online.

Police arrested Brandon Vongthongthrip, 20, on Thursday, April 30, on 200 counts of sexually assaulting an animal and 200 counts of aggravated animal abuse, said Sgt. Mike LeDuc, a Gresham police spokesman.

An anonymous caller reported the alleged abuse to the Oregon Humane Society, which assigned investigators to the case. Special agents worked with Gresham detectives to find the suspect and rescue the animal – an 8-year-old red nose American pit bull named Rocky.

The suspect reportedly admitted to police that he’d assaulted the dog more than 400 times during the five years. Investigators also discovered numerous photos posted on the Internet of the suspect sexually abusing the animal.

Vongthongthrip has no criminal record and does not have a history of mental illness, LeDuc said. He is a lifelong resident of East Multnomah County and lives with his mother and her fiance in the 2000 block of Southeast 186th Avenue.

The dog is under the protective custody of Multnomah County Animal Control in Troutdale, where it will be examined and treated for its injuries, LeDuc said.

“These are very rare cases,” said Mike Oswald, animal control director.

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