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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Father Acquitted After Beating Dog

Associated Press

A man who beat a dog with a baseball bat after it mauled his 1-year-old son was acquitted Monday of an animal cruelty charge.

Orange County Municipal Court jurors deliberated three hours before ruling in favor of Alan Roberts.

The toddler, Andrew, and his mother were waiting outside a coffee shop on July 30 when the loose dog attacked the boy, grabbing his face. Andrew, a child model, needed 60 stitches to close the wounds.

Roberts admitted last week that when he left the hospital he took a baseball bat and went looking for the dog, an Akita-chow mix. He found it tied up at the home of owner April Wyld.

Roberts also admitted beating the dog, which later had to euthanized.

A witness said he clubbed the animal 10 to 15 times.

Roberts said he lost control.

“I was an emotional wreck. It’s not my normal nature,” Roberts testified.