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Testimony: Man shot, killed dog after father fought with owner
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Jose Almendarez is sworn in Tuesday during the trial of Matthew Motes in Hall County Superior Court. Almendarez was a neighbor to both the victim and the defendant in the case. - photo by Erin O. Smith
After his father was bitten by a mastiff, a Gainesville man allegedly shot a pink child’s rifle multiple times, killing the animal, according to statements Tuesday in Superior Court. Matthew Steven Motes appeared for trial Tuesday on charges of aggravated animal cruelty and aggravated assault. He is accused of shooting Charles Todd Speer’s presa canario mastiff July 26, 2015, in Gainesville, after Speer and Matthew’s father Dewayne Motes fought that day.