An Ogden man who admitted to hurling six three-week-old puppies from a moving vehicle last October has been ordered to serve a short jail term followed by three years of supervised probation. Memphis Lor, 25, received a 120-day jail sentence on Monday as part of a deal that centers on his successfully completing probation. Two of the puppies died, and the mother dog was later found abandoned and severely malnourished.
The judge imposed the sentence on four convictions for torture of a companion animal and ordered fines and restitution, according to FOX 13 News. Prosecutors obtained $5,000 fines on each count that can be reduced to $750 if Lor completes probation, and the court ordered $5,329 in restitution to Davis County Animal Control for veterinary care. The plea agreement also prohibits Lor from owning or living with companion animals during his 36-month probation and requires a court-ordered mental health evaluation and any recommended treatment.
The plea and charges
Lor pleaded guilty on March 23 to four third-degree felony counts as part of a plea deal that dismissed three additional felonies and a misdemeanor, as reported by the Davis Journal. The reduced set of charges narrowed what prosecutors presented at sentencing and put the case on track for final resolution in May. Prosecutors said the agreement reflected the strongest counts they were confident they could prove while avoiding the uncertainty of a trial.
How the episode unfolded
Prosecutors say the incident happened on Oct. 22, 2025, while Lor was driving southbound on U.S. 89 between Fruit Heights and Layton and intentionally threw six three-week-old puppies from his vehicle at highway speed, according to KSL. Witnesses reported seeing the puppies scattered across the roadway and some hit by passing vehicles. Two of the animals were killed, and another was seriously injured. The puppies' mother was later found abandoned near Bountiful Pond, where animal-care officers described her as emaciated and in need of urgent treatment.
Community rescue and courtroom response
Several drivers and nearby residents stopped to scoop up the surviving puppies, and social media posts helped animal-care officers track down and reunite the litter with their mother, the Davis Journal reported. At sentencing, the court also heard from Animal Care of Davis County Director Michelle Hicks and received more than 100 letters from community members calling for accountability, according to FOX 13 News. Hicks told the court that the cruelty reflected prolonged neglect and said the mother dog still struggles with eating and trust months after the incident.
The legal stakes
Under Utah law, a third-degree felony carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000, which means four such convictions could theoretically total as much as 20 years if the terms were ordered to run consecutively, according to state sentencing guidelines from the Utah Sentencing Commission. In this case, the court chose a largely probation-centered outcome with a relatively short jail term that is tied to Lor’s compliance, while leaving open the possibility of a longer prison sentence if he violates probation.
During the hearing, Lor told the judge he was sorry for what happened and expressed regret. The surviving animals remain in care as they recover from injuries and neglect. Officials say the swift response from witnesses, community members, and animal-care officers was critical to getting the dogs treatment and identifying the owner after the incident.
