HOUSTON (November 28, 2012)—Ashley Nicole Richards, 22, and Brent Justice, 51, both of Houston were jailed Wednesday on federal and state charges stemming from allegations they made and distributed videos of live animals being tortured and killed.
The seven-count federal grand jury indictment accuses Richards and Justice of making eight videos of puppies, chickens and kittens being tortured and killed.
If convicted on all five "animal crush" charges and two obscenity counts, each could be sentenced to as much as 45 years in prison.
Both already faced state animal cruelty charges.
Richards was in Harris County Jail in Houston Wednesday in lieu of bonds totaling $290,000.
Justice was held in lieu of $15,000 bond.
A Justice Department statement said both will be transferred to federal custody.
