The three Manatee County men accused of abusing a shark in an incident caught on video have pleaded not guilty.
- Michael Wenzel, Robert Benac and Spencer Heintz plead not guilty in shark-dragging case
- Florida wildlife officials ID individuals in shark-dragging video (July 26, 2017)
- Group protest lack of charges in shark-dragging video case (Aug. 21. 2017)
- WATCH: The shark dragging video
A hearing was held on Wednesday.
All three men waived their court appearances and entered written not guilty pleas.
The men, Michael Wenzel, 21, of Palmetto, Robert Benac, 28, of Bradenton and Spencer Heintz, 23, of Palmetto are facing charges of animal cruelty. Benac and Wenzel also are facing charges of illegally catching the shark.
Those charges came after a four-month long investigation into the video from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office.
The video went viral upon its release and prompted outrage on social media.
Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 6.