Oregon man pleads guilty in monkey murder, torture videos case

An Oregon man pleaded guilty in federal court last week for his involvement in a conspiracy to produce and distribute videos depicting the torture, mutilation and murder of monkeys in exchange for money raised by an online animal abuse group he administered.

David Christopher Noble, 48, of Prineville, Oregon, made the guilty plea on charges of engaging in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos.

From January 2022 to February 2023, Noble conspired with other Oregon residents to send online payments to fellow co-conspirators overseas to fund videos showing the torture, mutilation and murder of monkeys, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon. Additionally, Noble ran an online group where members would fundraise, discuss ideas, and share these videos.

An ex-United States Air Force Officer, Noble was dismissed and had to serve six months in military custody after a court martial for fraud and an unprofessional relationship.

When law enforcement searched his house in February 2023, they found about 50 videos showing animal abuse, along with firearms and ammunition.

Last May, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Noble with "conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos, creating animal crush videos, and illegally possessing a firearm as a dishonorably discharged person," the release said.

Noble relocated from Prineville to Henderson, Nevada, and was arrested there in June 2023. He appeared in federal court in Las Vegas before being transferred to Oregon.

Noble faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will receive his sentence on April 24, 2024.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case; William M. McLaren and Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon are prosecuting it.