Judge Black lowers bond in assault case against Aaron Bensman
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ALPENA -- A quarter of a million dollars is too much to ask for the freedom of a man accused of assault and home invasion, according to Judge Ed Black in Alpena's 26th Circuit Court.
Aaron Bensman, 38, awaiting trial in the Alpena County Jail, was assigned a $250,000 bond after he was accused of home invasion and hurting a woman during an alleged sexual assault.
That amount was too far out of Bensman's reach, according to defense attorney Rick Steiger, who said his client is not a flight risk or a danger to the public.
Black agreed on Tuesday, lowering the bond to $125,000, which Bensman may be more able to secure from a bondsman or other means.
Reminded by Probation Officer Dan Weaver that Bensman went AWOL from an in-patient drug treatment program in the past and couldn't be tracked down by probation officers, Black ordered that Bensman be put on a tether if he is able to bond out of jail.
The News does not name alleged victims of sexual assault.