Dewey Brooks’ bond is set at $250,000

Duane Edgar “Dewey” Brooks waived his probable cause hearing and had a $250,000 secured bond set by Judge Edgar B. Gregory during Alleghany County District Court on July 12. Brooks remained in the Alleghany County Jail as of Tuesday night, jail officials said.

Brooks’ bond order stated that, if released, he was not to possess any firearm or come within 50 feet of a firearm.

Brooks will next appear in court during the August term of Alleghany County Superior Court, which will begin on Aug. 8 and is expected to end by Aug. 12.

Brooks is charged with first degree murder in the May 10 death of his son, 31-year-old Benjamin Howard Hartman.

Hartman was living in Spencerville, Ohio with other family members until he came to Brooks’ home in November 2004 to try to establish a relationship with his biological father. Hartman had taken the last name of his stepfather.

Brooks is alleged to have killed and buried his son on a piece of property on which both men lived at 1040 White Pine Rd. The death of Hartman was reported to authorities by Brooks some two weeks after the burial. That small, unpaved rural road connects to Jarvis Road, which connects to N.C. 18 north of Sparta.

According to information provided by Sheriff Mike Caudill, Brooks told authorities that he killed his son in self defense. Caudill said Brooks reported that his son threatened him with an AK 47, leading him to shoot him with a .32 caliber pistol he had in his pickup. Brooks told authorities that his son then went into his camper, which served as his residence, to attempt to get another rifle when he shot him again, killing him.

Investigating officer Capt. Carlton Edwards said last week that inconsistencies in the evidence and Brooks’ story led to the charges being filed. He did not to specify how the story was inaccurate. Also assisting in the investigation was the N.C. State Bureau of Investigations.

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