Man accused of killing friend's dog, making him bury it

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Winton antheral was arrested pursuing an alleged carnal cruelty incident, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday, the Merced County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Division received a study of an incidental connected Nicholas Drive successful Winton. The antheral who called instrumentality enforcement told deputies that portion helium was visiting a friend, that person changeable and killed his canine and past forced him, astatine gunpoint, to hide the animal.

Investigators identified 57-year-old James Charles Morales of Winton arsenic the suspect. According to authorities, the incidental began aft Morales became upset during what initially appeared to beryllium joking betwixt the 2 individuals. Morales past allegedly pulled retired a handgun, threatened to sprout the dog, and past fired aggregate rounds astatine the animal.

The unfortunate told deputies Morales past pointed the weapon astatine him and forced him to excavation a shallow sedate and hide the dog.

Deputies obtained a hunt warrant for Morales' location successful Winton. Prior to serving the warrant, Morales was seen leaving the location successful a vehicle. Deputies conducted a postulation halt a abbreviated clip aboriginal and were capable to detain Morales without incident.

During the hunt of the home, investigators recovered respective spent slug casings successful the backyard arsenic good arsenic a handgun wrong the house.

Authorities besides discovered the remains of a precocious deceased canine buried on the broadside of the property.

Morales was booked into the Merced County Jail connected carnal cruelty, kidnapping, felon successful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and battle with a firearm.

Anyone with accusation connected this incidental is urged to interaction the Merced County Sheriff's Office.