TOPSHAM – Elected to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night, Paul S. Bennett now says he will decline the position. The reason: It was revealed that in the mid-1990s, the 40-year-old served prison time for a conviction in a shaken-baby case.

The revelation about Bennett’s felony record has left town officials scrambling to fill the position they thought was finalized in the Tuesday night election.

Michelle Derr, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, said town leaders were discussing the situation at a meeting Thursday night. She said Town Manager James Ashe may announce on Friday how Bennett’s position would be filled.

In a statement posted on the Internet, Bennett said:

“I am truly sorry for the way events have unfolded in the last couple days. It was never my intention to deceive anyone, but only to stand up for the issues I believed in and help the town through the rough times ahead. I am truly sorry.

“I will not be taking the seat on the Board of Selectmen. This has caused an amazing amount of stress on my wife, who is 16 weeks pregnant and I have to think about her first and foremost. I also do not feel that I will be able to be effective in leading and helping the town and that my presence on the board will only prevent the town from moving away from this.”

In 1996, Bennett was convicted of manslaughter in the death of his 11-week-old son, Aaron, who died at their Brunswick home in 1993.

At the time, Bennett was enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attached to a telecommunications station north of Bar Harbor.

On Dec. 8, 1993, Bennett took his son to a Topsham doctor’s office after the boy apparently suffered a seizure, according to court records. The child was taken to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick where he died. The State Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled the death was the result of shaken-baby syndrome.

Bennett was ordered to serve five years of a 10-year prison sentence. He was released in 1999.

On Tuesday night, Bennett received 2,831 votes to win the seat on the Board of Selectmen.

In his statement, Bennett wrote:

“It’s time for Topsham to move forward. I appreciate the support that I have received from those who have said this does not change the way they feel about me. I’m sorry for letting you and the town down.

“And again, I’d ask for the town’s forgiveness for not being open and up front and I hope that by me not accepting the seat that you will continue to move forward and work with the Board of Selectmen to help the town through the tough and uncertain years ahead.”