Defendants plead no contest in puppy shooting case, rape case

Kevin James McClenithan and Brandon James Moon pleaded no contest in pretrial hearings held Nov. 3.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 9:46 a.m. November 4, 2015

Brandon James Moon (Photo courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.)

Palm Coast Observer
News

A man charged with animal cruelty and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the May 1 shooting of his neighbor’s Labrador retriever puppy has pleaded no contest to both charges.

Kevin James McClenithan entered his plea in a Nov. 3 pretrial hearing before Circuit Judge David Walsh, who sentenced him to five years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, 7th Judicial Circuit representative Ludmilla Lelis said. McClenithan also pleaded no contest to an unrelated domestic battery charge, and was sentenced to time served.

Also at the Nov. 3 pretrial, a 21-year-old Palm Coast man arrested in connection with the rape of an underage relative pleaded no contest to lewd and lascivious battery. The man, Brandon James Moon, entered an open plea: There is no agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for his potential sentence. The victim, a girl, was 13 or 14 when the crime occurred. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7.