Merced father, son plead not guilty in dog’s beating death

A Merced father and son pleaded not guilty Wednesday in connection with the beating death of their neighbor’s dog earlier this year.

Tony Clendenin, 52, and son Samuel Clendenin, 24, entered not guilty pleas to charges of animal cruelty and conspiracy in the Jan. 16 incident at their home on Massasso Court involving their neighbor’s German shepherd, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

Investigators have said the Clendenins killed the dog “maliciously and intentionally.” Police said the Clendenins made statements to investigators about the incident that were conflicting and inconsistent.

In an interview with ABC 30, Samuel Clendenin said the dog came into his backyard and lunged at him. The owners of the dog, identified by police as the Saeturn family, told the Fresno television news station that the dog was baited and attacked.

During the television interview, Samuel Clendenin, who held the animal down, said he feared the dog would charge if he let it up, and that his father struck the dog with a baseball bat.

The incident was captured on video from a camera mounted in the neighbor’s yard.

Both families have refused subsequent requests for interviews. Merced police have said the two families have a history of minor disputes dating to 2009.

Both men are due back in court April 14 for further proceedings.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Merced father, son plead not guilty in dog’s beating death."