VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Four people accused of brutally beating a disabled man at a party in the Tiger Bay State Forest will remain in jail without bond as they await trial.
Two of the suspects, 19-year-old Casey Knight and 18-year-old Logan Levesque, appeared in court Monday, Nov. 9, where a judge denied their release.
The other two defendants are 18-year-old Cody Stripling and 19-year-old Sebastian Bowers.
During Monday’s hearing, investigators testified about the victim’s injuries, including several contusions, a bloody mouth and a concussion.
Detective Larry Meeks with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said the victim went to the bonfire with a friend but did not know anyone else there. The victim told investigators people began attacking him, and he didn’t know why.
Prosecutors described the incident as a coordinated attack on a physically disabled man who could not defend himself.
They also focused on Knight’s role in recording the beating, arguing he filmed the attack instead of intervening. Prosecutors said Knight had a camera in the victim’s face while he was being punched, saw the blood in his mouth, never called police and deleted videos before turning over his phone.
Knight denied physically hurting the victim. His defense attorney argued there was no clear evidence he struck or choked the man.
Judge Kathryn Weston said she did not find Knight’s testimony credible. She also questioned whether he could be trusted not to pose a danger if released.
“I have no way of knowing that if Mr. Knight is walking the street and someone looks at him the wrong way or says something, they won’t be in danger,” Weston said.
The judge also described the attack as a group of people getting together to gang up on an innocent person.
The beating was captured on cell phone video. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood previously said the victim was physically disabled.
All four defendants are being held without bond as the case moves forward.
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