By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Two Wilcox Academy students are now facing felony animal cruelty charges after allegedly beheading three puppies with a machete and posting the video on social media.

Ashley Johnston, 18, and a 17-year-old, whose name has not been released, were arrested Tuesday by the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Department.

The two teens were originally charged with misdemeanors, but according to Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson, the charges have been upgraded to felonies.

Johnston and the 17-year-old are now charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and first-degree cruelty to animals. Both are felony charges, and each are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

“We talked to the sheriff about upgrading the charges because the nature of these crimes fit felony charges,” Jackson said. “These crimes were against three helpless puppies. Justice demands a very serious response to it.”

Jackson has filed a petition to charge the 17-year-old Wilcox Academy student as an adult. According to Jackson, someone who saw the video of the beheading on Snapchat alerted authorities.

While authorities have not seen the video due to Snapchats disappearing after a few seconds, they are looking into retrieving the video from the social media company.

According to Jackson, multiple students saw the Snapchat video.

Wilcox Academy Headmaster Chris Burford declined to comment at this time.

The Wilcox County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday, the teens are no longer in custody. Johnston posted a $5,000 bond, and the 17-year-old was not given a bond due to being a minor.