Former Henrico teacher charged after video surfaces allegedly depicting her sexually abusing her dog

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HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A former teacher at a Henrico County middle school has been charged with sexually abusing her dog after the principal of the school received a video of the alleged incident.

Chanelle Renee Lincoln faces the charge of sexually abusing an animal and appeared in Henrico County General District Court on Tuesday, May 20, for a preliminary hearing.

Lincoln worked for Henrico County Public Schools from August 2019 to October 2024, according to a spokesperson for the school division. She reportedly resigned from her teaching position at Pocahontas Middle School on Oct. 28, 2024.

According to court documents, earlier that month, on Oct. 2, 2024, a detective with the Henrico County Police Division responded to Pocahontas Middle School in response to a "suspicious video" reportedly sent to Principal Leah Wiedenhoft that was reported to be "sexual in nature."

The detective reportedly spoke to staff and viewed the video himself, and determined that in the video, Lincoln can be seen "engaging in sexual acts with a small dog."

Court documents said Lincoln was arrested and charged with sexually abusing an animal on Oct. 2.

Lincoln was reportedly interviewed in regard to the incident and confirmed it was her in the video, adding that the dog was her 3-year-old dog named Milo.

"She stated that although it looks like she has produced this media, she has never engaged in sexual acts of this nature with an animal," the document said.

Lincoln reportedly said that she had been "having an issue" with another person -- identified only as "a female" -- who Lincoln said had threatened her, had obtained sexually explicit videos of Lincoln and would send them to Wiedenhoft.

Lincoln said she knew this female had videos of her because she had sent them to Lincoln before, according to the document.

The document said that based on the detective's "experience and training," there are reportedly no indications that the video was altered or manipulated.

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During Tuesday's hearing, the court ordered that Lincoln is barred from contact with animals while the case is ongoing.

A grand jury hearing is scheduled for July 14 in Henrico County Circuit Court, followed by a preliminary hearing on Aug. 2.