Case Against Local Bull Rider Continued Again in Polk County Superior Court

A criminal case against a Rutherfordton man known in local bull riding circles has been continued once again, pushing the next court date into June.

According to eCourts records from Polk County Superior Court, the case against Randy Wayne Whitener Jr. was most recently reset on April 28, 2026. A disposition hearing is now scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Peter B. Knight.

The case has been continued multiple times since the start of the year. It was previously set for February 24, then moved to April before being reset again to June, according to court records.

Whitener, identified in prior reporting as a participant in the regional rodeo and bull riding community, faces nine felony counts of indecent liberties with a child. The charges are tied to alleged conduct on July 10, 2025, and were filed Sept. 17, 2025, following an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

He was arrested the same day the charges were filed. A grand jury later returned indictments on all nine counts on Nov. 3, 2025.

Court records show bond was set at $150,000 secured during a Sept. 19, 2025, first appearance hearing and was subsequently posted through a professional surety.

The case remains pending in Superior Court, with no plea or trial outcome recorded. The June hearing marks the next scheduled step in the proceedings unless the case is continued again.