Anthony Bennett in court to face charge of assaulting Carnel Cha - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(07/16/12) - An Isabella County man was back before a judge Monday to face a single charge of assaulting four-year old Carnel Chamberlain.

Anthony Bennett appeared in Bay City federal court Monday afternoon.

Carnel's badly burned body was discovered under his mother's porch about a week after he went missing in late June, on the Chippewa Indian Reservation just outside of Mt. Pleasant.

Bennett was his mother's boyfriend, and was living with the two.

Bennett is not charged in the murder of Carnel, but for assaulting him.

The case is being held in federal court because the alleged crime happened on an Indian reservation.

A federal judge officially charged Bennett with assaulting a child, causing substantial bodily injury. That could mean 5 years in prison.

His lawyer plead not guilty, and he's being held without bond.

Bennett's family members told him they loved him in the court room, and Bennett shouted "innocent" at our cameras as he was leaving.

His lawyer says they don't think there's enough evidence to support this case. Bennett's lawyer will review evidence and they expect this to go to trial.

Sunday, a memorial service for Carnell was held at the Soaring Eagle Casino.