JAMES CHARLES MORALES arrested for shooting a friend’s dog and forcing him to bury his dog at gunpoint

- California, USA -

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office arrested 57-year-old JAMES CHARLES MORALES (pictured), of Winton.

On January 12, 2026, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services received a report of an animal cruelty incident that occurred in Winton.

The reporting party stated that his friend, MORALES, shot and killed his dog and then forced him at gunpoint to bury his dog.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office tells me the furvictim was an 18-19-month-old Husky Pitbull mix named Batz.

From an investigation it emerged that on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the reporting party and his dog Batz, were at MORALES’ home, in the 6500 block of Nicholas Drive in Winton, to watch a football game.

At one point, MORALES became “upset during what initially appeared to be joking between the parties,” said the sheriff’s office in a press release. MORALES then took out a handgun, threatened his friend to shoot Batz, and then proceeded to shoot Batz multiple times.

According to the press release, after MORALES killed Batz, he pointed the handgun at his friend and forced him to bury his own dog.

When Batz’s guardian reported the incident to the authorities the following day, Investigators obtained a search warrant for MORALES’ home. When they arrived at the home, they saw MORALES driving away. Officers then pulled MORALES over and placed him under arrest.

The search warrant led to the discovery of multiple 9mm spent cartridge casings in the backyard and a 9mm handgun inside the residence.

Investigators also found “the remains of a recently deceased dog in a shallow grave on the side of the residence,” said the sheriff’s office.

Batz’s remains were taken to the Animal Shelter, where a necropsy will be conducted at a later date.

MORALES was booked into the Merced County Jail on felony charges of animal cruelty, kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and assault with a firearm.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the news release by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Pictures via Merced County Sheriff's Office.

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