Rusty Hardin, the attorney for Eagles DE Michael Bennett, tells Tim McManus of ESPN that his client would not plead guilty if his felony case on a charge of injury to the elderly goes to trial.
“The only two possible outcomes for this case is the DA’s office [saying] they don’t have a case and dismissing, or a trial — one or the other,” Hardin said. “If and whenever they ask for a plea, it will be not guilty.”
Hardin has said that he believes that Bennett is innocent.
“I just don’t think he did it,” Hardin said. “He certainly didn’t do anything intentionally, or negligibly or recklessly push or hurt her. Now, did something else happen to her from somebody else? I just don’t know.
“I think the bigger issue is there were a bunch of people going through that door, anywhere from 20 to 35 people rushing to go down on the field to see their loved ones and celebrate with them. He and his family were with a group of other Patriot family members, and when the game was over, these different families all went to the floor.
“… I just know that this guy would never intentionally or knowingly push her or do anything to somebody in a wheelchair. That just didn’t happen.”
Bennett was recently indicted on a felony charge of injury of the elderly stemming from an incident that occurred back in February of 2017 and turned himself in to police earlier in the week.
Bennett is accused of injuring a 66-year-old paraplegic who was working at NRG Stadium to control access to the field at Super Bowl LI. Bennett was in attendance to watch his brother, Martellus, play in the Super Bowl for the Patriots.
Bennett allegedly shoved his way onto to the field following the game injuring the elderly woman. He could face up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Bennett, 32, began his NFL career with the Buccaneers and spent four years in Tampa Bay before signing on with the Seahawks as a free agent back in 2013. Seattle signed him to a new four-year, $39 million contract that included $17.5 million guaranteed last year before trading him to the Eagles this offseason.
Bennett stands to make base salaries of $1.5 million and $6 million over the next two years of the agreement.
In 2017, Bennett had appeared in 16 games for the Seahawks and recorded 40 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and a pass defense.
We’ll have more regarding Bennett as the news is available.
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