Damariscotta Police Department

Alleged felony robbery leads to arrest

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 1:00pm

    A Damariscotta man who allegedly punched another man and stole upwards of $1,000 has been arrested a month after his arrest warrant was first issued.

    Joshua Benner, 26, of Damariscotta was arrested Feb. 16, more than a month after his arrest warrant for a felony robbery charge was issued.

    Benner is alleged to have assaulted and robbed a man in Damariscotta on Jan. 10.

    According to Damariscotta Police Officer Mark Graham's incident report, a Waldoboro man was reportedly in Damariscotta to buy a used car. The victim had more than $1,000 in his pocket to purchase the car, when Benner, along with two other men, allegedly started punching the victim.

    The victim reportedly never lost consciousness nor fell to the ground, but at one point Benner is alleged to have reached into the man's pocket and fished out the $1,000. After allegedly stealing the money, Benner and the other two men were reported to have run away.

    After the incident, the victim, who knew Benner, drove to a relative of Benner's house, but Benner wasn't there.

    Shortly thereafter the victim called the police, and Waldoboro Police Officer Jeff Fuller took a report.

    Graham went to the house of a relative of Benner's, where he spoke to a woman who allegedly stated that Benner had been there earlier, but that he was thrown out of the house.

    Shortly after speaking with Benner's relative, an arrest warrant was issued for Benner. He was also wanted by the Monmouth Police Department for questioning in relation to a burglary.

    Benner turned himself in on Feb. 16, and was taken to and released from Two Bridges Regional Jail the same day.

    If charged, Benner could face up to 30 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine for the robbery charge, which is a Class A crime. Benner was also charged with a Class D crime for the alleged assault. Class D crimes are misdemeanors and are punishable by up to 364 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.