Merced judge orders bail increase in dog-beating case

A father and son from Merced charged with killing a dog with a baseball bat and a stick have two weeks to raise enough money to pay a new bail bond after prosecutors beefed up the charges in the case this week.

Anthony Clendenin, 52, and his son, Samuel Clendenin, 25, have pleaded not guilty to felony animal cruelty charges in the Jan. 16 beating death of a neighbor’s German shepherd in the backyard of the Clendenins’ home on Massasso Court.

Thomas Min, the Merced County deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, on Monday asked Judge David W. Moranda to increase bail for both men after he added the enhancement of both men using weapons in the attack.

“The enhancement increases their bail to $70,000 and adds an additional year to their sentence, if they’re convicted,” Min told the Sun-Star.

If convicted, both men could face up to four years in prison, prosecutors confirmed.

The judge agreed to increase the bail amount for both defendants, but gave them two weeks to come up with the money before going to jail. They are due back in court Oct. 13. If they cannot pay the bail at that time, they will be taken back into custody, Min confirmed.

Both men have been placed on electronic monitoring with ankle bracelets until their next court appearance, authorities said.

A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 10.

Both men were arrested after the incident in their backyard that resulted in the dog’s death. Defense attorneys have argued their clients were defending themselves. Merced police officers said surveillance video of the incident appeared to show the dog retreating and possibly trying to escape.

Police also said the video shows the younger man standing on top of the dog while the older Clendenin strikes it with a weapon repeatedly.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Merced judge orders bail increase in dog-beating case."