Boulder City man arrested on lewdness charges

Boulder City resident Peter Bennett, 67, was arrested Thursday and charged with six counts of open and gross lewdness involving a minor as a result of a warrant issued from the Boulder City Justice Court, local police said today. 

A second series of charges are being filed after an alleged adult victim came forward, according to Boulder City Police Detective Tiffany Driscoll. Those charges are attempted kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and four counts of open and gross lewdness. 

"He's being rebooked on new charges because we had a new victim come forward," Driscoll said. "There are two victims. One is a juvenile and one is an adult."

The second set of charges happened at the corrals at the Boulder City Horseman's Association, 1 Corral Road, she said. Bennett has been active in the activities at the corrals, and is believed to also have been involved with the high school rodeo club.

Driscoll declined to discuss specifics of the first set of charges because they involve a juvenile. However, police believe there may be more victims of Bennett, and she hopes they will come forward. Driscoll said that the facts of the case lead police to believe there may be more victims, but she declined to discuss specifics.

"If you're a parent and your child has been with Mr. Bennett, alone with Mr. Bennett or worked with Mr. Bennett, we would really appreciate it if you came forward," Driscoll said. 

Driscoll said the children might be more willing to open up to an investigator or another adult than their own parents if something has happened. 

"I've interviewed a lot of children and a lot of children tell me things that their parents don't know," she said. "They don't feel as threatened or worried about the ramifications of telling me."

Bennett was being held on the first set of charges on $12,000 cash or $120,000 bond in the Clark County Detention Center. He was arrested Thursday after what Driscoll called "a long investigation that lasted months."

The investigation is still ongoing and police believes there may be more victims in this case and asks anyone with information is urged to contact Driscoll at 702-293-9297 or tdriscoll@bcnv.org, or the Boulder City Police at 293-9224.