A Waldoboro man who told police he was the victim of a robbery in Damariscotta faces charges after an investigation revealed the robbery never happened.
Evan M. Benner, 24, faces class D charges of false public alarm or report and unsworn falsification, according to Damariscotta Police Department Sgt. Jason Warlick. Both charges are misdemeanors punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
Evan Benner had told police Joshua D. “Josh” Benner, 26, of Damariscotta, and two other men assaulted him and stole $1,000 from him in Damariscotta’s municipal parking lot Saturday morning, Jan. 10.
Josh Benner was arrested on charges of class A robbery and class D assault Feb. 16. Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Damariscotta police continued to investigate the matter and “we found out that Evan was never robbed, that Evan voluntarily had given money to Josh,” Warlick said.
Evan Benner “admitted to me that he wasn’t robbed,” Warlick said.
The development comes as good news for Josh Benner, who is currently free on bail. Assistant District Attorney Katie Hollstrom said her office filed paperwork to dismiss both charges against Josh Benner Wednesday morning, March 11.
Evan Benner and Josh Benner are not related, Warlick said.
