Susan Collins’ primary challenger says fight against assault conviction shows integrity

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/12/30/politics/elections/susan-collins-primary-challenger-erick-bennett-says-fight-against-assault-conviction-shows-integrity/

PORTLAND, Maine — Erick Bennett, a conservative Portland consultant who has launched a Republican primary campaign against incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, says his experience with the justice system — which he obtained when he was convicted of domestic violence assault 10 years ago — is driving him toward what he calls a “pro-family” agenda.

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Bennett was convicted of Class D assault in a 2003 District Court ruling after attacking his wife. The two since have divorced.

He fought the conviction until 2004, when it was affirmed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled that “the court did not commit clear error or abuse its discretion in excluding irrelevant evidence at trial,” and that “sufficient evidence does exist in the record to support his conviction.”

Still, Bennett claims he is innocent and said the justice system is stacked against alleged attackers in domestic violence cases. When asked about his specific case, he said he was “railroaded” by the court after declining to accept a plea agreement.

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