Man accused of incest waives jury in favor of bench trial

An Elizabethtown man facing 13 felony sex offenses waived a jury trial Friday in Hardin Circuit Court in favor of a trial by court.

George W. Beason Jr., 32, is charged with third-degree rape, three counts of incest, three counts of third-degree sodomy, six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, distribution of obscene matter to a minor and second-degree persistent felony offense.

On Tuesday, Beason filed a motion in court requesting a bench trial, which would make the judge, instead of the jury, responsible for determining guilt and a potential sentence.

Hardin Circuit Judge Ken Howard approved the motion Friday. The case is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 23.