Two Iredell men arrested in separate child sex assault cases

A 65-year-old Statesville area man was jailed on $1 million bail after being charged with 69 counts of first-degree sexual offense against a child under the age of 12.

Michael Thomas Chambers was arrested after sheriff’s investigators interviewed the victim, interviewed more witnesses and collected evidence, authorities said.

A report was filed with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office on June 16 about a child being assaulted in Chambers’ home over six years, starting in 2009, authorities said.

In another case, Iredell County man was arrested in connection with the rape of a child under the age of 16.

Michael Adrian Bennett, 50, was charged with eight counts of statutory rape of a child and four counts of indecent liberties with a child. Bennett was in the Iredell County jail Wednesday on $250,000 bail.

Joe Marusak