Police say Troy woman struck man with whiskey bottle
Brandy Benson
A Troy woman is accused of slamming a whiskey bottle into her husband’s head during a late-night altercation last month.
Brandy Dawn Benson, 43, appeared in Lincoln County District Court on July 10 and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of assault with a weapon and one misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault.
According to the charging document, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brandon Huff responded to the residence on Kootenai Drive in Troy at about 10:30 p.m. June 5.
Benson’s husband told the officer his wife of 27 years had assaulted him at 6 that morning by striking him in the side of the head with a bottle of Southern Comfort, then punched him in the head several times.
Huff reported seeing bruising and redness on the man’s face and left eye. The alleged victim also thought his ear drum may be ruptured. Huff reported that the woman had no visible injuries.
Benson’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10. She is free after posting a $20,000 bond.
A conviction for assault with a weapon may result in a 20-year sentence in the Montana State Prison. Twelve months in the county jail is the maximum for a conviction on partner or family member assault.