DESMOND LEVON BROWN plead guilty to burning a live puppy in a rum-fueled fire while broadcasting the savage act

- South Carolina, USA -

The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina announced that 28-year-old DESMOND LEVON BROWN (pictured), of Orangeburg, “has pleaded guilty to animal crushing, which includes burning, under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act)”.

Bryan P. Stirling, United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, said this is the first known PACT Act Conviction in South Carolina.

The case dates back to the morning of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, when deputies with the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic dispute at a residence on Norfield Drive in Norway.

Deputies were advised that as a woman burned BROWN’s clothing, BROWN threw the woman’s puppy into the fire.

Sadly, the puppy was found lifeless in a wooded area near the incident location.

BROWN denied throwing the puppy into fire, but investigators were sent a video of the unspeakable incident which had been uploaded to social media.

Investigators determined that the fire had been started by BROWN’s associate and was made using rum.

The video showed BROWN holding the puppy above the fire, dropping him/her into the fire, and repeatedly kicking the furvictim into the fire, burning him/her alive.

BROWN was arrested on December 19, 2024, and at the time, Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in a Facebook post: “I’ve seen some extremely despicable and disgusting things in my career, but this is one of the worst.”

After his arrest BROWN “was recorded on jail calls admitting to burning the puppy”, stated the press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted BROWN’s guilty plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina said that BROWN faces a maximum penalty of seven years in federal prison. Additionally, he faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. 

In a written statement U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina said: “Brown’s gruesome torture of a puppy was heinous. He showed no mercy in his crime, and we look forward to his sentencing.  Our office will lead the fight to protect the welfare of animals in South Carolina”.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

BROWN’s mugshot shared from the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. 

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