Edgewater Man Who Choked, Beat Girlfriend Receives Maximum Sentence

EDGEWATER, MD — An Edgewater man was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum prison term for what prosecutors said was a vicious attack on his girlfriend, and also based on his multiple previous conviction for assaulting other women and a police officer.

Nick Bennett, 57, of Edgewater, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for second-degree assault. In addition, Bennett was convicted for violating a protective order.

"My office has a zero-tolerance for domestic violence. Given that this case was particularly egregious, I am very happy for the victim and for our community that Judge Kiessling handed down the maximum sentence," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a news release. "This defendant has been assaulting women since 1986 and I am proud that our office was able to finally end this defendant's continued violence."

During this incident, Bennett threw the victim on the floor, held her down with his hands around her neck, and grabbed her hair as he slammed her head against the floor multiple times. The victim was able to escape Bennett and ran upstairs, where she called 911.

As Judge Kiessling handed down her sentence, she said, "There is a reason for maximum periods of incarceration and you are it, sir."