California City Man Charged with Murder After Dog Attack That Led to Boy's Drowning
A 68-year-old California City man is facing multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, after prosecutors say his three dogs chased a 12-year-old boy into a lake, where the child drowned while trying to escape.
Kenneth Dobbins was charged Monday with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and allowing a dangerous animal to run at large resulting in death and injury. He remains in custody after being arrested last week in Lancaster with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
According to investigators, 12-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno entered the lake at Central Park in California City on June 18 while fleeing three aggressive dogs. He was later found unresponsive at the bottom of the lake and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Court documents allege Dobbins entered the water to retrieve his dogs but did not attempt to help Fernando, call 911, or provide any assistance. Investigators also say the dogs attacked an 8-year-old girl immediately afterward, biting her arm, leg, and ponytail before her mother fought them off. Dobbins allegedly gathered the dogs and left the scene without checking on either child or speaking to the girl's mother.
Authorities say there had been prior complaints about the dogs' aggressive behavior before the fatal incident.
Dobbins refused to be transported to court for his arraignment Monday, and a judge authorized the use of reasonable force to bring him to court. His arraignment has been continued until Tuesday afternoon