On Friday, November 2, 2018, Darryl Turner, 31, of Dos Palos was convicted by a Merced County jury of one count of animal cruelty, and one count of battery against his mother. Turner also pled “no contest” to resisting arrest, prior to the beginning of the trial.

Between May 6 and May 7, 2018, Merced County Sheriff’s deputies responded twice to a residence in Dos Palos for reports that Turner had assaulted an adult German shepherd dog. During the investigation, authorities learned that Turner became belligerent following a birthday party and assaulted his mother, sister, and his sister’s German Shepherd Zeus.

According to Turner’s mother, “he held the dog up by the dog’s collar and shook the dog from left-to-right.” She described to the 911 operator that the defendant was “choking” the dog, after he brought the dog’s collar up to at least shoulder height and the dog made a noise.

Turner will be sentenced at 10:00 a.m. on December 21, 2018, in courtroom 3 of the Merced County Superior Court.