Man charged in murder case, details of motive revealed

An Alexander County grand jury on Monday (Sept. 16) indicted Casey Charles Bentley, 38, of Lenoir, on a charge of first-degree murder. Bentley was arrested by the Alexander County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 2 following an incident in Bethlehem Township.

The charges are related to the attack on 55-year-old Kenneth Young of Lenoir. Young allegedly made inappropriate comments about Bentley's daughter. He was taken to a regional medical facility and died of his injuries on September 4. The cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. Following his death, Bentley was charged with murder. He is free on $175,000 bail.

Bentley is represented by defense attorney Lisa Dubs. According to our news partner WACB, Dubs said Bentley's 15-year-old daughter was at a friend's house in Alexander County. Young was also at the house. Dubs said Bentley received a frantic phone 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 teen was also forced into a kitchen where Young touched the side of her breast.

Bentley is believed to have driven from Lenoir to Bethlehem. He reportedly found Young in the Wittenburg Access Area at Lake Hickory. Young's next court date is scheduled for September 23.

[Story Courtesy of Rick Gilbert, WACB]