Henrico woman in toxic love triangle involving bestiality back behind bars

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- One of the women involved in a messy love triangle tangled with bestiality is back behind bars. Erica Corpening is facing three counts of sexually abusing an animal and has violated her bond.   

The case began to unfold when Chanelle Lincoln, a former teacher, was charged with one count of sexually abusing her dog in October 2024 after an explicit video was sent to her principal at Pocahontas Middle School and the superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools.   

Corpening sent the video using a fake email that was later traced back to her. She was labeled a fugitive in May until she turned herself in on August 26.

The Commonwealth's Attorney said there'd been "egregious violations of bond." The judge said she violated her bond by reporting a different address to three different agencies. Her bond also included restrictions like staying off social media.

Court documents say she "knowingly distribute[d], publish[ed] or transmit[ted] an obscene video depicting a person engaged in sexual contact with an animal."    

Court documents also say Lincoln and Corpening were both in a romantic relationship with the same man. That man is Kent Montgomery, who is also facing a bestiality charge as an accessory before the fact.

Montgomery allegedly recorded Lincoln sexually abusing her dog over FaceTime in 2021. The two broke up in 2022 and he and Corpening began a relationship. Montgomery has been charged with domestic violence in the past -- several charges involving Corpening that have since been dropped.

Corpening found the video in June 2023 while going through his phone when she believed he was cheating on her. She allegedly blackmailed Lincoln with it, and sent it out on Oct. 2, 2024.

The judge said it seems like she just "sat on it and used it to get somebody in trouble."  He said if she'd had the video for a few days and reported it to authorities, she wouldn't be prosecuted. The Commonwealth's Attorney said Corpening had contact with police seven times between obtaining the video and sending it, giving her plenty of chances to report it.

Corpening's attorney, Katherine Poindexter, said she's been harassed and had her personal information published online by Lincoln and Montgomery over the past few months, but the Commonwealth's Attorney said no evidence of this has been submitted to the court.

Corpening had around 10 family members supporting her in court, who were visibly emotional about her going back to jail.