Ashley Johnston’s Puppy Beheading Video Just ‘Kids Being Stupid’? Sheriff Downplays Dog Killing

Police officers in Alabama say 18-year-old Ashley Johnston and his unidentified 17-year-old friend created a puppy beheading video for Snapchat, where the latter teen tossed puppies into the air and cut off their heads with a machete. Sheriff Earnest Evans says the teens are being charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty since they were “just two kids being stupid,” but some believe the charges should be elevated to felony animal cruelty.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, a crucified cat a on cross was used as a cruel message in order to complain at a Christian church. Police halted a train to rescue a pit bull puppy that was shot and tied to the railroad tracks.

District Attorney Michael Jackson, of Alabama’s 4th Judicial Circuit, says a caller alerted them to the dog killing video on Snapchat. Investigators say that Ashley Johnston used his cell phone to record the puppy beheading video, but Sheriff Evans believes the teen’s actions didn’t sit well on his conscience. When Johnston confessed to the puppy killing, he seemed remorseful and emotional.

“It would be fair to say the 18-year-old confessed. He kind of owned it, took the photos, and he actually didn’t like it. The pictures were on social media for about 15 seconds,” Evans said, according to WSMV. “From the information that I have so far, this is just two kids being stupid.”

Both teenagers attend a private school called Wilcox Academy High School in Camden, Alabama. Both have good grades, and Johnston plays as a football wide receiver for the Wilcox Academy Wildcats in addition to being an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.

A petition claims that the misdemeanor animal cruelty charges should be elevated to felony charges.

“They were proud of their evil act and now are acting remorseful. Their remorse is they were caught. The Sheriff is trying to sweep this under the rug calling it a prank. This type behavior is demented and sick and these two should be charged with felony animal cruelty charges. Studies show that people that abuse animals will abuse people. We have to be the voice to speak for these murdered animals.”

Alabama’s animal cruelty laws state that a “person commits a Class A misdemeanor if he or she… kills or injures without good cause any animal belonging to another,” but the law also provides for a Class C felony if “the act of cruelty or neglect involved the infliction of torture to the animal.” Charges of felony animal cruelty also apply if “he or she intentionally tortures any dog.”

Thus, the judge in this case will have to decide if beheading puppies with a machete legally constitutes torture or an act of cruelty. It’s possible a judge could be lenient based upon the teenagers’ prior history, but otherwise, Ashley Johnston and his friend may face years in prison.