***Breaking News*** Alexander County Grand Jury Returns Murder Indictment Against Lenoir Man On Monday

An Alexander County Grand Jury returned a true-bill of indictment for first-degree murder on Monday against 38-year old Casey Charles Bentley of Lenoir. Bentley was arrested by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office on Labor Day following an incident along Lake Hickory in the Bethlehem Community.

The charges involve the assault of 55-year old Kenneth Young of Lenoir. Young allegedly had made inappropriate comments about Bentley’s teenage daughter. Young was taken to a regional medical facility and succumbed to his injuries a couple days later. He died of blunt force trauma to the head. Upon the death, Bentley was charged with murder. He remains free on a secured bond of $175,000.

Defense attorney Lisa Dubs is representing Bentley. Dubs said Bentley’s 15-year-old daughter was at a friend’s home in Alexander County. Young was also at the house.

Dubs says Bentley received a distraught call from his daughter. The 15-year-old told her father that Young asked her to lift her shirt to reveal her breasts. Dubs said the 15-year-old was also cornered in a kitchen where Young touched the side of her breast.

Bentley is said to have driven from Lenoir to Bethlehem. He reportedly found Young at the Wittenburg Access Area along Lake Hickory.

The next scheduled court appearance for Bentley is scheduled for September 23rd.