Orangeburg Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Burning Puppy Alive in S.C.’s First PACT Act Prosecution

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Desmond Levon Brown, 30, of Orangeburg, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for animal crushing, which includes burning, under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act). This was the first PACT ACT case prosecuted in the District of South Carolina.

On Dec. 18, 2024, the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office received reports of a Facebook Live video showing Brown throwing a puppy into a fire that day. Deputies discovered the deceased puppy in a wooded area near the incident location. Federal law enforcement obtained the Facebook video, which showed Brown holding the puppy above the fire, dropping it into the fire, and repeatedly kicking the puppy into the fire every time it tried to escape, burning it alive. After his arrest, Brown was recorded on jail calls admitting to burning the puppy.

"Brown's actions were cruel, heinous and depraved," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to working with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty in South Carolina."

"This was an awful act of animal cruelty that deserves accountability," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. "No animal should ever have to experience such terrible abuse, and those who commit reprehensible acts of violence like this will be brough to justice."

"This puppy could neither fend for itself nor find a way out of this horrific torture because it was thrown into the fire over and over," Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said. "Hopefully, this sentence will give Brown enough time to realize what he has done, and it weighs on his heart for the rest of his days."

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Brown to 60 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. As a condition of his supervised release, Brown is prohibited from owning or possessing any animal. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.

Citizens can report suspected animal abuse to local law enforcement, the Department of Justice or the U.S. Department of AgricultureLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

###