FORT COLLINS, Colo. -
A Fort Collins mother is under arrest accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy she met through a common interest in "furry" gatherings. Furries are people who dress in animal costumes and get together to socialize.
According to the arrest affidavit, 45-year-old Richael Michels was considered to be a role model for the 16-year-old boy, but allegedly was having sex with him the entire time.
The initial tip apparently came from her husband, who was upset about her growing interest in Furries.
Brandon De Vito runs 25th Hour Anime shop and says most of his friends are Furries. He says they adopt animal personas and make costumes called "fur suits." De Vito says the Furry lifestyle is not about sex at all. He says Furries are harmless, gentle, good-natured people who like to get together to share their common interest.
He says there about 6,000 Furries in the Denver area, making it one of the largest Furry populations in the nation.
Next month, the annual Rocky Mountain Fur Con will be held in a downtown Denver hotel. It's a convention where thousands of Furries, in costume, are expected to show up.
According to the arrest affidavit, 45-year-old Richael Michels was considered to be a role model for the 16-year-old boy, but allegedly was having sex with him the entire time.
The initial tip apparently came from her husband, who was upset about her growing interest in Furries.
Brandon De Vito runs 25th Hour Anime shop and says most of his friends are Furries. He says they adopt animal personas and make costumes called "fur suits." De Vito says the Furry lifestyle is not about sex at all. He says Furries are harmless, gentle, good-natured people who like to get together to share their common interest.
He says there about 6,000 Furries in the Denver area, making it one of the largest Furry populations in the nation.
Next month, the annual Rocky Mountain Fur Con will be held in a downtown Denver hotel. It's a convention where thousands of Furries, in costume, are expected to show up.
