A woman has entered a guilty plea in a disturbing case involving child sex abuse, following the discovery of disturbing videos at her residence, including instances of bestiality.
Last July, authorities were alerted by the Ohio Crimes Against Children Task Force about potential child molestation at the residence of Shawna Mayfield, 28, and Justin Mayfield, 37. Upon conducting a search, law enforcement found child sex abuse materials in Shawna Mayfield’s possession, which she had shared, produced, and replicated.
The evidence against the couple is substantial, with footage depicting Mrs. Mayfield sexually abusing a four-year-old child and both Mayfields coercing another child into inappropriate actions. Correspondences between the Mayfields revealed their exchange of child abuse videos, with additional footage showing Mrs. Mayfield engaging in a sex act with the family dog in May 2025, as per an indictment reported by WFMJ.
According to WKBN, Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman disclosed that videos were found of the defendant engaging in sexual acts with an animal, specifically a dog. Additionally, during the search, authorities discovered an illegal marijuana grow exceeding legal limits on the premises.
On January 7, Mrs. Mayfield, facing charges including pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, rape, sexual conduct with an animal, and endangering children, changed her plea to guilty. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and testify against her husband in exchange for a recommended sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Sentencing will be conducted at a later date.
Mrs. Mayfield, with no prior criminal record as per the Tribune Chronicle, provided a detailed statement regarding her testimony. Failure to cooperate would void the plea agreement, leading to potential conviction on all charges, including those set to be dismissed under the deal.
The rape charges against Mrs. Mayfield span from June 2023 to August 2025, carrying a penalty of 10 years to life in prison per count, while the sexual conduct with an animal offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail.
Mr. Mayfield faces multiple rape charges, disseminating harmful material to minors, and endangering children counts. Prosecutors have proposed a 50-year to life prison term in exchange for a plea deal, but his attorney is negotiating a different outcome, aiming for a sentence comparable to what his wife received, despite her facing more charges.
Attorney Brendan Keating emphasized the need for a fair sentence aligned with Mrs. Mayfield’s, who is charged with more crimes but received a different plea deal. Mr. Mayfield is scheduled to return to court on January 12 for trial proceedings later in the month.