By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Herbert Bennett has plead guilty to one felony county of wanton endangerment with a firearm. As part of a plea agreement, the remaining four charges were dismissed. The plea was entered in person before Judge Courrier September 10th in District Court.
Tucker County Prosectuing Attorney Savannah Hull Wilkins recommended five years in prison, but would consider alternative sentencing in the case. Wilkins also wanted a stipulation that Bennett continue his mental health treatment and medications, be barred from owning or possessing a firearm and requested a pre-sentencing report.
Bennett appeared in person along side his attorney Phil Isner. Bennett was sworn in during the proceedings and was explained his rights and the judicial process by Judge Courrier, as well as some of the rights he could be expected to give up with a felony conviction, which included firearms possession and ownership. Judge Courrier also explained that there are increased penalties for future offenses with felony conviction. Bennett said he understood.
Wilkins said that on October 19, 2022, a light was shot out outside the Family Dollar in Parsons. When employees investigated, a shotgun shell was found on the ground and saw a blue Jeep Liberty fleeing the scene. The employees were later able to identify the defendant from a lineup due to an altercation earlier in the day at the store.
Law Enforcement found a large amount of firearms and ammunition at the home of Bennett, who at one time had been a licensed firearms dealer, Wilkins said. Wilkins said that confusion about what was happening at the time, from mental health issues, contributed to a situation that required the used of the Special Response Team by Law Enforcement.
Bennett asked about his ankle bracelet during the proceedings and the possibility to be released from home confinement. Wilkins requested he be kept on home confinement while Isner requested he be released from home confinement pending sentencing. Bennett said he has been wearing the monitor for 17 months. “He’s been a model citizen since he’s got his mental health in check,” Isner said.
Judge Courrier accepted the guilty plea to one count of Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm and ordered that the ankle bracelet monitoring continue until the sentencing hearing in October. Judge Courrier said that his decision was based on the fact that the bracelet may remain on following sentencing and that it would be less than a month before Bennett was to be sentenced. Judge Courrier said he would take up the matter of the ankle monitor at the sentencing hearing.
Bennett entered and written and verbal plea in the case. Bennett is scheduled to be sentenced in early October.