Two people from Prague have been charged with felony abuse by caretaker for allegedly abusing a woman who had entrusted one of them to look after her animals.
Each one also faces an additional charge of grand larceny, a felony.
Monica Louise Lockhart, 51, and Roland Edward Benton, 45, were formally charged Dec. 6 in Lincoln County District Court with the two felonies.
A $10,000 bench warrant was filed Dec. 6 against each one. The warrants were returned and filed on Dec. 9.
Lockhart’s $10,00 bond remains in force and her initial appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 20, 2022 on both charges.
Special Judge Emily Mueller has set Benton’s initial appearance for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30 this year and his $10,000 bond remains in effect, the judge ordered.
In the abuse by caretaker counts against Benton and Lockhart, each is accused of abusing a woman who entrusted them to his and her care.
In the grand larceny count, each is charged with taking and carrying away an iPhone and $3,000 in currency that belonged to that woman without her consent.
Benton also has another felony pending that he was charged with on Nov. 3. On that date, he was formally charged with domestic assault and battery by strangulation.
He made his initial appearance on Dec. 2 on that count and Judge Mueller ordered him to return with his attorney at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 2022.
On that charge, Benton is accused of strangling Monica Lockhart with whom he was in an intimate relationship, pushing her to the ground, gabbing her by the throat and throwing her around in an attempt to cause her harm.
Court records show that case was filed a month before the newer charges against him and Lockhart were filed. However, the affidavits filed with the abuse by caretaker and grand larceny charges were prepared by Lincoln County deputies before the domestic assault and battery count was filed.
Judge Mueller set a $3,000 bond for Benton with the stipulation he have no contact with Lockhart.