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Moyock man charged in fatal hit-and-run
A 20-year-old man from Moyock was arrested last week in connection with last month’s fatal hit-and-run in northern Currituck County.
Justin James Stone was charged July 1 by the Highway Patrol with four counts, including felony death by vehicle and felony hit and run involving death, driving while impaired, and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.
Jacob Bezik, 20, was struck as he walked along Puddin Ridge Road the morning of June 23.
Sgt. R.A. Moreau of the NC Highway Patrol said the investigation into the incident continues, and no other details were available.
“Our investigation developed several leads, and enough evidence, to bring charges,” Moreau said.
Stone was booked at the Currituck Detention Center on July 1, was released after posting $5,000 bond.
At a hearing Monday in Currituck District Court, Stone’s first appearance was continued until the August 8 criminal district session. He is represented by attorney Mark Warren of the Twiford Law Firm, according to the Currituck Clerk of Court office.
Bezik is the second person to die in the past year while walking on the narrow, two-lane road that connects several large neighborhoods and the former Blackwater compound with N.C. 168.
“He decided to walk to his father’s house nearby after waking up that morning following a party the night before,” Sgt. J.C. Wilson of the Highway Patrol said in a June 28 interview. “He sent a text message to friends who were still sleeping to let them know where he was.”
The exact time of the hit-and-run is unknown, but the Highway Patrol has estimated it happened between 4:30 and 5:15 a.m., based on when the text was sent and when his body was discovered.
In December 2011, Zachary Story, 23, of Moyock died while walking in the middle of the road at night while wearing dark clothing.
The Highway Patrol did not charge the driver who hit Story, ruling it was an unavoidable accident.
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Native son says:
Bond seems low at $5,000.00,is this a mis-print?
Tired of it says:
The bond is probably right, no thanks to our law makers. It’ll give him another chance to make the same mistake again or to go into hiding just before his arraignment. Not sure who the law is protecting with such a low bond. Should have been $50K!
Currituck local says:
I feel he shouldn’t be charged at all. Why should the other girl be let go and he have top stand trial? It’s just not right.
Voice reader says:
Bond is set to assure appearance in court. Just because it is a serious charge it does not mean the defendant is gonna skip town. Several things are taken into consideration when setting a bond (in theory, just look at the Rodrigues fugitive). Stone is probably a lifelong resident of the area, might have a steady job, has family in the area, and possibly no or little criminal record. All those things are looked at.
lmp says:
Book, end Danno
Justin says:
I know this guy personally. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions. He is a good kid who had his life on track, attending aviation school and working hard. His mother is battling cancer and his father is doing the best he can. I know he never meant to hurt anyone and these roads are VERY dark. Not a road you should walk at night PERIOD! I also personally know the young lady who hit the guy a while back. Her grandmother works for me. She or her passengers never saw him and hit him with the driver side of her car… He was in the middle of the road drunk… The young man left the same party he did. Sometimes people make the wrong decisions. He will accept his punishment, but should get another chance. Wrong place at the wrong time for both of them. Sorry for the loss of the Bezik family.
Currituck local says:
I agree with you Justin
Crystal Stone says:
No one really know’s what happen i honestly believe if justin did it he would say so and owned up to it. Im so sorry for the Bezik family. I agree his family has been going threw enough for the past several years. Honestly the truth always comes out. And whomever or whoever was responsible the truth will come out.