New Lenox Man Violated Protection Order: Complaint

NEW LENOX, IL - A New Lenox man has been charged with unlawful violation of a protection order after police say he made contact with the woman against her wishes by reaching out to her on Facebook. The Will County criminal complaint against 38-year-old Thomas Benson was filed last week by the New Lenox Police Department.

Benson is accused of reaching out to the 29-year-old woman on Nov. 15 even though she has had a protection order in place since last summer to keep him out of her life, court records reflect.

According to the petition on file at the Will County Courthouse, Benson came home last July 16 and "he pulled my hair ... Thomas threw a phone at me, and I have a bruise. When he left the house, he took my debit card and spent $250."

The order of protection filing states that "I called the police because I was upset," and "They found Thomas walking down the road with no shoes or shirt. The police escorted me back to the house ..."

The woman who got the protection order informed Will County's judicial system that, "I am afraid of Thomas drinking because it has escalated. His mood is worsening, he is getting very angry ... Thomas calls my work and calls my boss a dumb bitch to her face. She told him if he doesn't stop calling, she is going to call the police."

The warrant seeking Benson's arrest lists him as residing in the 400 block of Circlegate Road in New Lenox.