Man charged with murder of burned boy

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (WOOD) - A Saginaw Chippewa tribe member now faces several federal charges, including murder, in connection to the June death of a 4-year-old boy.

Anthony Bennett, 20, was indicted on seven criminal counts in federal court. Four of those counts are connected to the death of Carnel Chamberlain, whose body was found under his home on tribal lands in Mount Pleasant.

The Nov. 7 federal indictment includes a first-degree murder charge. Previously, Bennett had been charged only with assault causing substantial bodily injury.

Court documents show he faces:

• Murder in the first degree: "On June 21, 2012 Bennett killed a child listed as "C.C." with premeditation in the perpetration of Child Abuse.
• Assault of a child resulting in substantial bodily injury: "In June 2012 he assaulted "C.C." causing injury.
• Assault of a child: "In June 2012 he assaulted "C.C."
• Assault with a dangerous weapon: "In June 012 he assaulted Jaimee Chamberlain (Carnel Chamberlain's mother) with a baseball bat"
• Animal cruelty: "In June 2012 he committed a reckless act he knew or should have known would cause harm to an Animal."
• Witness tampering: "On March 23, 2012 Bennett attempted to intimidate, threaten or persuade Russell Hutchinson with the intent to prevent him from communicating information about a possible criminal offense."
• Witness tampering: "On March 23, 2012 Bennett attempted to intimidate, threaten or persuade Diamintina Shaffer with the intent to prevent him from communicating information about a possible criminal offense."

The indictment does not name Carnel Chamberlain outright, instead only referring to the victim as "C.C.", but it is known that Carnel died in the timeframe specified in the indictment.

Bennett's defense lawyer, Anthony Chambers, told the Associated Press the murder charge is not a surprise. He said he plans to fight the charges.

Carnel Chamberlain disappeared June 21. On June 28, his badly burned body was found when a search warrant was executed at the Tomah Road home where he lived with his mother and her boyfriend, Bennett.

Bennett was supposed to be watching Carnel on the day the boy disappeared.

The federal government is handling the case because the boy's body was found on tribal land.