ROCKLAND, Maine — A Rockport man was sentenced Friday to 12 months in jail for violating his probation by “tagging” a domestic violence victim via Facebook.
Eldon Bennett, 32, had been sentenced in April 2015 in the same Knox County Unified Court to three years in jail with all but 11 months suspended for felony domestic violence assault against the woman. Upon his release he was placed on probation for two years with the condition that he have no contact, direct or indirect, with the woman.
But on Nov. 12, he tagged the victim in a Facebook post, according to court records. When a person is tagged, the post will show up on that person’s page. In a letter to the court, the woman said that a photo that appeared on her page because of Bennett’s tag showed a man and a woman and mentioned demons. The woman contacted the district attorney’s office and asked that Bennett serve the maximum of a year in jail for the probation violation.
At last year’s sentencing in the domestic violence case, the woman had implored the judge not to accept the 11-month sentence agreement reached between the defense attorney and prosecutor, saying it was not severe enough for what he had done to her.
Bennett has two prior domestic assault convictions — one with a former girlfriend and one against the current victim in 2012.
The victim said in the 2015 case that Bennett pulled her out of bed, slapped her, spit at her, kicked her in the ribs while she was on the floor and said horrible things to her. She said he threatened to shoot her and then shoot himself.
After being charged in that case, Bennett also called the victim, visited her at the house and then, while in jail for violating the bail conditions that prevented him from contacting her, sent letters to their 3-year-old son in which he had messages for the woman.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.