Man accused in drowning death of kid in California City pleads not guilty
Jun 30, 2026
Kenneth Dobbins, 68, pleaded not guilty in a Bakersfield courtroom after being accused in the drowning death of 12-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno.Dobbins is accused of letting his two dogs chase Torres Moreno into the waters of
Central Park Lake in California City, where Torres Moreno began to struggle to stay above water. Torres Moreno later died after being pulled from the water.According to a search warrant, police allege Dobbins went into the water to retrieve the dogs but did not attempt to help Torres Moreno, walking away while calling his dogs to follow him.Dobbins made his first court appearance after not showing up on Monday. He is due back in court on July 14.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere: Download Our Free App for Apple and Android Sign Up for Our Daily E-mail Newsletter Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to Us on YouTube
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