A teenager and another man are facing animal cruelty and gun possession charges for allegedly shooting an ostrich on Halloween night when it attacked them.
Timothy McKevitt, 19, and Jonathan Porter, 20, attacked the animal as it pounced on them while both the men were trespassing the ranch.
However, the two men have pleaded not guilty in San Mateo Superior Court on Wednesday to both the charges.
San Mateo County prosecutors told the AP that Porter also is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident took place on October 31, when both the men were drinking with some friends and decided to trespass on a ranch. One of the birds apparently grew irate and attacked the group, and injured the two men.
According to prosecutors, the two men decided to take revenge. They returned to the ranch with a rifle and shotgun and shot and killed the animal.
A preliminary hearing for the pair was scheduled for Nov. 21. Currently, they are in custody on a $25,000 bond.
