A California man is facing a second-degree murder charge after authorities say his dogs attacked children at a California City park, leading to the drowning death of 12-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno. Kenneth Dobbins, 68, has pleaded not guilty to all counts and remains in custody without bail as prosecutors pursue felony charges connected to the June 18 incident.
According to California City police, officers were called to Central Park shortly after 6 p.m. for a report of a drowning in progress. Investigators said Fernando had jumped into the lake while trying to escape dogs that were allegedly chasing or attacking him. Officers later found him at the bottom of the lake, brought him to the surface and began CPR before he was taken for medical care.
An 8-year-old girl was also attacked during the same incident and suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police and prosecutors say the dogs belonged to Dobbins, and the case quickly moved from an emergency rescue response into a criminal investigation focused on whether the animals had been allowed to run loose despite prior warnings.
A search warrant cited by local reporting alleged that Dobbins had been warned about the dogs’ behavior two days before the fatal incident. One officer reportedly said he had “almost had to shoot the dogs” because of their conduct before the park attack. Prosecutors are now using those alleged warnings as part of the case against him.
Police also alleged in warrant materials that Dobbins entered the water to retrieve his dogs but did not try to help Fernando or the injured girl. Local reporting said he allegedly called the dogs away and left the area, a detail investigators are reviewing as they reconstruct the moments before and after the drowning.
Dobbins was later arrested after authorities searched for him following the incident. Earlier reports said he was located in Lancaster after a citizen tip, then transferred into Kern County custody. At least one of the dogs was later seized, while investigators continued working to account for the animals involved.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said Dobbins is charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, failure to control mischievous animals resulting in death, and failure to control mischievous animals resulting in great bodily injury. His next hearings are scheduled for July 14 and July 15. The case remains active, and Dobbins is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
