Two girls arrested in tortoise torture case

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Authorities made two arrests in connection with an investigation into the torture of a gopher tortoise.

Jennifer Emoke Greene, 18, and a 15-year-old girl face cruelty to animal charges, a third-degree felony.

The two are also charged with a second-degree misdemeanor charge of harassing, harming or killing a gopher turtle.

Authorities arrested the two girls around 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began investigating in mid-July when video of the incident went viral.

The video showed a tiny gopher tortoise being stomped on and set on fire.

Gopher tortoises are protected species in Florida.

Greene faces up to five years in prison on the animal cruelty charge, and up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The 15-year-old girl will be processed through the juvenile court system.

Greene appeared in court Saturday morning in Clay County for her  bond hearing.

The judged declared a bond of $50,003 set for Greene’s felony charge and $5,002 for her misdemeanor charge, a total of $55,005.

Greene’s next court date is August 27 at 9 a.m.

WJAX