Accused dog killer
seeks deferral

The Big Island man takes the
legal action to clear his record

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Star-Bulletin staff

KEAAU, Hawaii >> A Big Island man accused of killing his landlord's dog with a machete after the dog killed two of his cats in December has pleaded no contest to a cruelty-to-animals charge.

Orchidland resident Jeffrey Fendentz entered the plea yesterday and will ask the District Court to defer accepting the plea, which means the incident could be erased from his record if he stays out of trouble, said Fendentz's attorney John Carroll.

The prosecution is expected to ask for jail time for the misdemeanor charge, Carroll said.

"He understands it's a crime. He never should have done it, and he will never do it again," Carroll said.

Outside the court, Fendentz said, "I really made a big mistake."

Fendentz is taking anger management classes and presented a letter from the conductor of the classes, Special People of Hawaii, saying Fendentz "does not pose a danger nor indicate a predisposition of violence or cruelty to himself, his family, his neighborhood or the greater community in which he resides."

Sentencing is scheduled for April 9.