3 Georgia men face charges after Arkansas investigation into deer beating video

Three Georgia men face charges after an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission investigation into a video purportedly showing the beating of a deer in the back of a vehicle.

In a statement Thursday, the commission identified Joshua Rewis, 20, of Villa Rica, Ga., as the person seen in the video striking a deer repeatedly with a textbook on U.S. 165 near Stuttgart. He faces charges of cruelty to animals and wasting wildlife. Those counts have bond amounts of $1,140 and $2,640, respectively.

Two other Georgia men in the vehicle — Cody Jones, 25, of Carrollton, Ga.; and Travis Strickland, 25, of Winston, Ga. — face charges of aiding and abetting for their alleged involvement. Bond for that charge is $370 each, the commission said.

The vehicle's driver, 19-year-old Johnna Sigler of Stuttgart, was issued a warning on an aiding and abetting charge.

Rewis told authorities that the deer was struck by the vehicle as they were traveling on the highway. The three men then loaded the live deer into the vehicle, with Rewis telling officers of his intent to tag the deer and clean it, according to Thursday's statement.

The commission said the deer was struck multiple times after it became active in the vehicle.

"After the deer began crying out, the group pulled over and the men dragged the deer to a ditch along the highway and left it," according to the agency.

No effort was made to contact officials to report the incident, the commission said.

Video was posted online and circulated through Facebook. An investigation began after the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission was contacted Jan. 28 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, according to the commission.

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