Legislation Would Ban Animal Cruelty Videos

Ventura County’s top law enforcement officials joined Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and actor Mickey Rooney on Monday to announce introduction of legislation to ban the distribution of videotapes that show cruelty to small animals.

They depict women crushing small animals underfoot.

“This is something so horrible and so despicable that it has to end,” Gallegly said. “The fact that people are making money at this is an atrocity and it’s an atrocity that we can end.”

Other officials in attendance were Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury and Sheriff Bob Brooks.

The bill is set to go before a House committee next month.

Demand for the tapes has spawned a cottage industry that Gallegly estimated generates almost $1 million a year.

The videos, which purportedly sell for as much as $100, have titles such as “Vicious in Las Vegas” and “Mistress Di, Princess of Death.”

A Ventura County undercover investigator tipped Los Beach police to the activities of Gary Lynn Thomason, 47, who is suspected of filming crush tapes. The investigation eventually led to the arrest of his associate, Diane Aileen Chaffin of La Puente, who was charged last week with three counts of torturing, maiming and killing mice during a video that Thomason is suspected of filming.

Prosecutors say that during her preliminary hearing Thursday in West Covina, they will show a video of Chaffin in high heels, stomping rodents to death.

Chaffin, 35, has been jailed in lieu of $45,000 bail since her arrest last week. A $45,000 warrant has been issued for Thomason’s arrest.