FILE: SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 27: A Guinea Pigs sits in a basket at the San Francisco Animal Care and Control July 27, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Samuel J. Webster, age 18, from Woods Cross, Utah, was charged by a federal grand jury on Tuesday with 18 felony counts of distributing animal crush videos, one felony count of creating an animal crush video, and four felony counts of animal crushing.
Because some of the KSL NewsRadio audience may find the details related to this case especially disturbing, we are not publishing the description of animal crushing. Please visit this link from the U.S. Department of Justice for more details.
The U.S. Attorney for Utah, Trina A. Higgins, said that Webster bought four guinea pigs from different pet stores in Farmington, Salt Lake City, and West Jordan.
After obtaining the animals, Webster is accused of making videos of the abuse and torture of the animals.
The videos were then reportedly posted on YouTube under various accounts.
Webster reportedly added comments to the videos describing his desire to hurt guinea pigs.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. FBI special Agents are conducting the investigation.