Man charged after he chose to save his dogs instead of a child who drowned

A 68-year-old California man is facing second-degree murder charges after he rescued his dogs from a lake but ignored a drowning child who the dogs had been chasing.

Bakersfield, California, ABC affiliate KERO reported that Kenneth Dobbins was charged in connection with the death of Fernando Torres Moreno, 12.

On June 18, Dobbins was at a park with his three dogs in California City, California, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. While he was at the park, the three dogs began chasing Moreno and his 8-year-old sister. Seeking to get away from the dogs, Moreno jumped into a lake, and the dogs followed him into the water.

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Dobbins went into the lake to retrieve his dogs but did not assist Moreno, who was reportedly struggling to stay afloat.

Police were called to the lake, and one of the officers was allegedly chased and surrounded by the dogs before Dobbins was able to get them under control. Moreno was pulled from the lake and taken to a hospital, but he later died. His sister was bitten multiple times and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries but was eventually released.

Dobbins was arrested June 25 and charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. He refused to appear for his scheduled arraignment Monday, prompting a judge to order him brought to court Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty.

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