FARMINGTON — A Jay woman pleaded guilty Friday in Franklin County Superior Court to a felony manslaughter charge in connection with an accident that killed her husband last year.
Barbara Benoit, 51, waived her rights to a trial and accepted a plea agreement. The deal dismissed a second charge of aggravated operating under the influence of alcohol in the crash on Route 133 in Jay that killed Peter Benoit, 56, on July 12, 2009.
Justice Michaela Murphy postponed sentencing to Aug. 20 on the manslaughter charge, for which Benoit faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for causing the death of her husband.
If the case had gone to trial, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson told the court, state evidence would have shown Benoit admitted to having two glasses of wine before the couple left their Farmington restaurant and headed home to 39 Davis Road, off Route 133, about a half-mile from the accident scene. She also admitted to being the driver.
Blood tests taken from Benoit by emergency personnel that night would show her blood-alcohol level was 0.12; Maine's legal threshold for driving is 0.08.
Benoit was driving a 2008 Subaru Outback when she lost control of the car and hit a guardrail, police said. Her husband's head came in contact with the guardrail and a section of the car. Barbara Benoit drove home and called an ambulance, police said.
A medical examiner would have testified that the cause of her husband's death was a skull fracture suffered in the accident, Robinson told the court.
On that night, police went to the scene of the wreck when someone reported hearing a crash and pinpointed the vicinity. Jay officer Troy Young found a large amount of debris and indications that a car had hit a guardrail, but no vehicle was at the scene. Young also found a purse with cards belonging to Barbara Benoit, Robinson said.
The local dispatch received 911 hangups from the 39 Davis Road residence.
When Young arrived at the home, he found the passenger had died, Robinson said. Barbara Benoit showed signs of shock but was cooperative, submitted to testing and admitted to having the wine, he said.
Benoit's lawyer, David Austin, told the court that Benoit did not have a phone with her at the accident scene on a not heavily traveled highway and drove the short distance to their house where she tried to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her husband.
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Law VS Logic
An example of how State or Govt. Law replaces logic, common sense and fairness by 100%. Everyone who commented, summed it up pretty well. All I can say is start a protest and get hundreds to thousands involved. March to the state house and protest with signs and march to the courthouse or wherever necessary. Stand up for each other. Remember, these people putting her behind bars work for us. We pay through our tax dollars. We hand them the checks. Do you tell your boss whom hands you a check every week what to do? People need to stop forgetting that American citizens are in control. Start something through facebook and get the word out and organize protests. This isn't a joke. This lady may die in prison. People need to come together and stand up for one another. This can be you next. If anything, if everyone works together, she may get a lot less of a sentence. We're suppose to stand up for each other, not against each other. Everyone get your heads out of the gutter and let's set this lady free. Hand out fliers, post information on telephone poles and in stores. All over the internet. If you have a little bit of cash, use the newspaper or news stations. The power is with the people. If you don't care, the justice system doesn't care. Free this woman or let her die in prison. Those are your choices. If you choose to let her die in prison, don't cry when you step foot in her shoes. Don't just sit there and say "aww, well that's too bad" get out and do what's right. Don't be cowards, the police, lawyers, courts, state and anyone in govt. are our employees! They work for us! I'm pissed off about it and everyone else should be too. Get out there and be angry!
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Cruel by rusty It's people like you that have nothing better to do in life but to make things up. First Barb DOSE NOT DRINK BEER she only drinks wine. If you seen her downing all this wine and beer and watched her get in her car and drive off you should be found guilty of manslaughter to because you could of stop this from happening by calling the police and reporting her. So don't think by running your gums now and telling all your lies is going to make a differnce. There is nothing more the courts can do to her, She lives with this every day of her life and that in itself is more then enough.
Don't worrie Barb your friends are still here for you and always will be. Peter we all love and miss you very much. R.I.P. Peter
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People who have NO idea of the facts jump right in with their judgements and criticisms. You are probably the same people who go to church every week and sit in your perfect little glass bubble pew and pat yourselves on the back for the "good deeds" you do in your life. God sees EVERYTHING thats in your heart...and especially when you spew it out on the SJ site.
Accidents happen, people panic, actions cannot be undone. But understanding, love and forgiveness can go a long way toward healing. I hope this family continues to support eachother as it seems they have been doing. RIP Peter, and prayers being said for Barbara. this will take forever to heal, but may you have the love of your family to help and guide you.
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this is my aunt barbara and uncle peter, so i'll be straight up honest with you.
my aunt only HAD two glasses of wine before the accident.
she drove home because it was a 2 minute drive and no house lights were on at the time.
once she got home, she started CPR in the hopes to revive him.
she was in shock and called 911 when she got home.
as they arrived, he was pronounced dead.
this was not her fault, it was just a freak accident.
i am not at all upset with her, i still love her.
i don't wish to see her go to jail, but whats done is done.
i hope everyone can stop nagging her saying she had more than 2.
she didnt, and her sentence got postponed for personal matters.
she is an ordinary person, and this could have happened to anyone,
and "hal", thank you for pointing that out.
I love you Uncle Peter, RIP.
and no matter what, ill always be there for you aunt barbara. i love you so much.
I'm sorry all of this has come upon your shoulders, I love you, and have no anger against you. <3
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.#of glasses? easy, just check the receipt...
If her account of how many glasses of wine she may have had were different than that on the receipt when the police investigated I would expect the article would mention the discrepency. 0.12 in no way inhibits proper driving, the limit of 0.08 is low so more individuals can be ticketed thus supporting our judicial systems. Tragic accident that most likely would have happened anyway.
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how do you know it was just 2 glasses of wine, and not more after the wine i observed her several times guzzling down something (beer,wine) i was having an ice cream and could see in plaine view what it was she was doing and then to watch drive off drunk. and she is still driving if it was me or someone else we would never be able to drive for a long time....it just aint right.
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For what reason are the police being so cruel? This couple out enjoying an evening together has the misfortune of getting into an accident. Was it done on purpose? How often does a family couple have two glasses of wine during the course of an evening and then drive home? It happens every day. Isn't this woman going to go thru enough torture on her own? Ask your self how this would be handled if this woman was a Senator or a Congresswoman.
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An example of how State or Govt. Law replaces logic, common sense and fairness by 100%. Everyone who commented, summed it up pretty well. All I can say is start a protest and get hundreds to thousands involved. March to the state house and protest with signs and march to the courthouse or wherever necessary. Stand up for each other. Remember, these people putting her behind bars work for us. We pay through our tax dollars. We hand them the checks. Do you tell your boss whom hands you a check every week what to do? People need to stop forgetting that American citizens are in control. Start something through facebook and get the word out and organize protests. This isn't a joke. This lady may die in prison. People need to come together and stand up for one another. This can be you next. If anything, if everyone works together, she may get a lot less of a sentence. We're suppose to stand up for each other, not against each other. Everyone get your heads out of the gutter and let's set this lady free. Hand out fliers, post information on telephone poles and in stores. All over the internet. If you have a little bit of cash, use the newspaper or news stations. The power is with the people. If you don't care, the justice system doesn't care. Free this woman or let her die in prison. Those are your choices. If you choose to let her die in prison, don't cry when you step foot in her shoes. Don't just sit there and say "aww, well that's too bad" get out and do what's right. Don't be cowards, the police, lawyers, courts, state and anyone in govt. are our employees! They work for us! I'm pissed off about it and everyone else should be too. Get out there and be angry!
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