Grand jury indicts Bennett on sexual assault charges

The trouble keeps mounting for Boulder City resident Peter Bennett, who on Oct. 30 was indicted on sexual assault charges by a Clark County District Court grand jury.

The indictment came after Bennett, 67, was arrested twice, in August and September, by Boulder City police.

Bennett is charged with 24 felonies, including one count of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault with the use of a deadly weapon, two counts each of battery with intent to commit sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and second-degree kidnapping, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, seven counts of burglary and six counts of coercion.

He also is charged with an additional 10 counts of open and gross lewdness, a misdemeanor.

There are five victims in the case, four of whom are adults, the district attorney said.

Bennett is being held at Clark County Detention Center on $1 million bail, his attorney, Damian Sheets, said.

Sheets said he will try to have the bail reduced at Bennett’s initial arraignment, scheduled for Nov. 15 in District Court.

“We are preparing to ask for it to be reduced to something reasonable,” Sheets said Monday.

Bennett was initially arrested by Boulder City police Aug. 29 and charged with six counts of open and gross lewdness with a minor. The charges involve a 15-year-old female and incidents that allegedly occurred Sept. 14 and 15, 2012.

A second series of charges including attempted kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and four counts of open and gross lewdness, were filed Aug. 30. The charges involved an adult victim and an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 17 at the Boulder City Horseman’s Association.

Bennett leases a lot at the corrals, Horseman’s Association President Scott Donnelly said.

Bennett posted bail following his initial arrest, but was arrested again while appearing at Boulder City Justice Court Sept. 24. He was charged with kidnapping, coercion, open and gross lewdness and sexual assault.

The second arrest was the result of a third victim coming forward, police said, but they gave no details about the victim.

After Bennett’s August arrest, Boulder City police reached out to the press, hoping to find additional victims.

“We expected more people to come forward, and they have been,” Boulder City Police Chief Bill Conger said in September.

Sheets said there will be “a heck of a lot of community support” for Bennett at the arraignment.

“It’s been my client’s position (that) he maintains his innocence,” Sheets said.

Bennett has lived in Nevada for 57 years, and at his Boulder City residence for 25 years with his wife of 43 years, Sheets has said previously.