Federal charges filed in 'animal crush' video case

Ashley Nichole Richards, 21 (DOB: 11-10-90) is charged with felony cruelty to non-livestock animals. Ashley Nichole Richards, 21 (DOB: 11-10-90) is charged with felony cruelty to non-livestock animals. Photo: Houston Police Department Photo: Houston Police Department Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Federal charges filed in 'animal crush' video case 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A Houston man and woman accused of profiting from videotaping the torture and death of several pets have been indicted on federal charges, officials said on Wednesday.

Ashley Nicole Richards, 22, and Brent Justice, 51, were arrested on Aug. 15 on animal cruelty charges. A state district judge that month ordered they remain in the Harris County Jail.

The seven-count federal indictment, returned on Wednesday, accuses them of creating and distributing the so-called "animal crush videos." The federal charges cite eight videos that involve puppies, chickens and kittens being tortured and killed, federal officials said. The indictment also alleges the videos are obscene. The videos were created between February 2010 and August 2012, according to the indictment.

At the state district court proceeding, prosecutors said Richards received emails from clients who offered to pay her to provide the videos for their sexual gratification.

Richards and Justice used meat cleavers and other knives to torture animals, prosecutors said, and posted the videos online.

If convicted on the federal charges, Richards and Justice face up to seven years in federal prison on each of the five animal crush charges and up to five years on each of the two obscenity charges, officials said.