Ohio man sentenced to imprisonment for animal crushing videos; possession, transportation of child sexual abuse materials

Lucas Russell Vanwoert, 27, of Celina, was sentenced to 97 months (more than eight years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, II for possession and transportation of child pornography, transportation of obscene materials and creating an animal crush video.

Vanwoert was additionally ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release, required to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from owning or possessing a pet in the future.

Vanwoert created an animal crush video in 2022 with intent to distribute according to court documents. An animal crush video is defined as any photograph, motion picture, film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that depicts actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, or bestiality and is obscene.

Authorities also seized several electronic devices that were found to contain videos of child pornography, which involved prepubescent children, as well as animal crush videos, as part of an executed search warrant at Vanwoert’s residence in Celina.

Homeland Security Investigations Agent Jason Guyton was the lead investigator. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Michelle M. Baeppler.

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