LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A Hickory man has been charged with assaulting and robbing a Taylorsville man after the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said the two men met at the Lincoln County Walking Trail in the 2600 block of Laboratory Road in Lincolnton back on Wednesday, May 22.
Deputies said the 34-year-old victim, met 18-year-old Ethan Roten on a social dating website, agreed to meet with Roten at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22.
The victim told deputies that after the two met in a parking lot they walked down the trail for about five minutes before going through a wooded area to the South Fork River. They sat on the river bank talking until Roten said he needed to go to the restroom.
Deputies said Roten then walked behind the victim and struck him in the left side of the face. The victim blacked out for a short period of time and when he woke up he saw Roten running down the path where they had walked in.
The victim said Roten took his cap and headlight, $300 in cash and vape pen and tubes. Because he was not familiar with the area he drove around for about 30 minutes before stopping at a convenience store in the 1400 block of East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC. Law enforcement and Lincoln County EMS were dispatched to the scene. The victim was treated on the scene then transferred to Atrium – Lincoln for additional treatment for a laceration over his eye.
Deputies report Roten has been charged with felony common law robbery. Roten was arrested in Burke County on May 25, 2019 and is under a $20,000 secured bond.
