Arraignment rescheduled for man accused of attacking Merced dog with machete
An arraignment was once again rescheduled Thursday for a man accused of taking part in a vicious machete attack on a dog in Merced.
Myron L. Pattillo, 46, is set to appear in Merced Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Friday for arraignment on charges of robbery and animal cruelty. His hearing was rescheduled because the Public Defender’s Office has not assigned him an attorney.
And, for the second day in a row, Pattillo told a judge his medical needs are not being treated properly by staff members at John Latorraca Correctional Facility. While wearing a court-issued hearing device, he told the judge he has diabetic retinopathy, which refers to eye problems that people with diabetes may face.
“They can’t adequately address these issues,” he told the judge.
Police said Pattillo and his co-defendent, Aaron W. Carney, 29, on May 1 tied a 1-year-old Siberian husky to a fire hydrant at Austin Avenue and Conestoga Drive, hacking the animal with machetes and forcing authorities to euthanize the severely injured dog, named Lucious.
Judge David Moranda set Pattillo’s arraignment hearing, saying the court needs to address the man’s medical issues as soon as it can.
The other defendant, Carney, is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Pattillo and Carney were arrested several hours after the incident on suspicion of animal cruelty and robbery, the Merced Police Department said.
News of the violent death of the dog led to an outcry from the community. More than 50 people gathered Saturday at G Street and Olive Avenue to speak out against animal cruelty in general and the brutality of the attack on the dog.
A makeshift memorial of flowers, a photo of the dog, a heart-shaped balloon and other symbols have since been placed on the hydrant where the animal was attacked.
Each man is being held in lieu of $170,000 bail.
Sun-Star staff writer Thaddeus Miller can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or tmiller@mercedsunstar.com.
This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 1:36 PM with the headline "Arraignment rescheduled for man accused of attacking Merced dog with machete."