PARIS — A Buckfield man was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison, with all but 75 days suspended, for using his truck as a weapon after an argument with his girlfriend.
Dale Bennett, 33, was convicted last month of felony reckless conduct, felony criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and driving to endanger. Felony charges of aggravated assault, aggravated criminal mischief and operating under the influence with two prior convictions were dropped in a plea deal.
Oxford County Active-Retired Justice Robert Clifford sentenced Bennett to five years on the reckless conduct charge, with all but 75 days suspended, and two years on the criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon charge, with all time suspended. Bennett was sentenced to 30 days for driving to endanger, which will be served at the same time as the other charges.
Bennett was ordered to serve two years of probation on each felony charge.
According to Paris police officer Raymond Paar, Bennett and his girlfriend got into an argument while driving home from Lake Pennesseewassee in Norway in July 2016.
One witness said the argument centered on what kind of hamburger to buy at the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Paris.
Paar wrote in an affidavit that Bennett smashed into several vehicles at a Hill Street residence and terrorized his girlfriend and her family, who were forced to flee and hide behind a tree.
Dale J. Bennett
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