Richard BennettA judge today set a trial date for Richard Bennett, founder and director of A Better Tomorrow, on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
Bennett and his attorney, Bill Speek, asked for a January 27th trial date.
"Mr. Bennett's livelihood has been on hold until we can have these charges vindicated," Speek said.
Bennett was arrested in June after he was found in a minivan with a woman, two open bottles of Budweiser, and an open bottle of Patron tequila. In a glove box, police found a baggie with less than a gram of marijuana. They also discovered a key chain containing one-and-a-half 7.5 mg hydrocodone pills.
Before his arrest, Bennett's A Better Tomorrow nonprofit was Mayor Andy Berke's pick to lead the VRI initiative.
He was charged with violation of open container laws, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, all misdemeanors. Bennett has always maintained that he was working that night, and in September, the first two charges were dropped.
Speek said that truth will come out at trial.
"We want a jury to hear the facts and decide on that issue," Speek said.
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