Utah Resident Pleads Guilty to Animal Crushing and Posting the Torture on YouTube

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Davis County man pleaded guilty today to animal torture via animal crushing and posting multiple videos of the animal crushing on YouTube while in the District of Utah.

According to court documents, in October 2021, Samuel J. Webster, 20, of Farmington, Utah purposefully engaged in animal crushing by purchasing a male guinea pig from a pet supply store in Farmington, Utah. Webster purposefully subjected the guinea pig to serious bodily injury by hitting, sexually coercing, and penetrating the guinea pig and then posting it on YouTube, titling the video “Porn.” Webster further admitted, the guinea pig was obtained in interstate commerce for the purpose of creating and distributing YouTube videos around the world that he made of himself torturing and killing the guinea pig.

Webster pleaded guilty to distribution of animal crush video and animal crushing. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The FBI Salt Lake Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Melina Shiraldi of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

If you are aware of animal cruelty, please report it to law enforcement or call 1-800-CALL-FBI or leave a tip at tips.fbi.gov.