Valley man indicted on multiple charges

PALMER -- A grand jury has indicted a Meadow Lakes man on nine counts, including four third-degree assault charges, in connection with an alleged hit-and-run.

Third-degree assault is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. In addition, William L. Bentti, 43, faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, driving with license revoked, and two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons.

The indictments were handed down Tuesday in Palmer District Court. They stem from a Sept. 7 incident that occurred at 12:35 a.m. at Mile 1 Pittman Road, near Bentti's home.

Audrey and Christopher Elkins told Alaska State Troopers they were driving back from Pittman Road Tesoro when a car slammed on its brakes in front of them. They passed the vehicle, and soon afterward their car was struck in the rear and pushed by the car they'd passed, according to charging documents.

Audrey Elkins, the driver, said she let the other car pass and followed it to a residence at Mile 2.5 Pittman Road. Elkins told troopers the other car was driven by a man who got out, went into the house, and then came back outside.

She then heard a gunshot, and she drove away with a flat tire, charging documents said.

While Trooper Ben Christian was interviewing the Elkinses, a gold 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass passed them on Pittman headed toward the Parks Highway, Christian said in an affidavit. Both of the Elkinses identified the car as the one that had hit their vehicle, the affidavit said.

Christian stopped the Oldsmobile, and Bentti admitting driving earlier in evening as well as having consumed alcohol, charging documents said. The Elkinses later identified Bentti as the man who had hit their vehicle, court documents said.