A Caldwell County magistrate was arrested in downtown Princeton Friday morning and charged with driving on a DUI suspended license.
Princeton Assistant Police Chief Shane Allison says while officers were responding to a complaint on Cadiz Street shortly after 10:00, they observed a vehicle matching the description and conducted a traffic stop on West Market Street at the Caldwell County Courthouse. He says officers made contact with the driver, 72-year old Elbert Bennett, who was taken into custody after it was determined he was driving on a suspended license. Upon further investigation, officers determined that Bennett was not involved in the incident on Cadiz Street.
Bennett was charged with driving on a DUI suspended license, first offense.
Bennett was arrested by Kentucky State Police earlier this year after law enforcement responded to a sexual abuse complaint in Fredonia. State Police said Bennett pulled up to his home on a tractor and was suspected of being under the influence. He was taken into custody and charged with DUI and third-degree sexual abuse.
In August, Bennett accepted a plea agreement in which he pled guilty to the DUI charge and the third-degree sexual abuse charge was diverted for two years until August 11, 2023. As part of the agreement in the DUI case, a special judge appointed to the case, Judge J. Foster Cotthoff said Bennett’s 30-day jail sentence was probated for two years, his driver’s license would be suspended and he must complete Alcohol Drug Education (ADE) classes.
Bennett has served as the District 1 magistrate since 2002 and has filed his paperwork with the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office to run for his sixth term.
