Musician Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting Woman At Hard Rock

Tuesday, June 14th 2016, 10:59 am

By: Emory Bryan

A Rogers County judge sentenced a California musician to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman at the Hard Rock Casino in 2014.

Scott Montgomery Bennett was found guilty of rape by instrumentation and sexual battery in an attack on December 4, 2014. On Tuesday, a judge sentenced Bennett to five years in prison.

Prosecutors say Bennett encountered a young woman who had been drinking as she exited an elevator at the hotel on the lobby level.

Surveillance video shows him blocking her from exiting the elevator and taking her back to the floor where his room was located, the Rogers County DA's Office states.

The video shows she was unsteady on her feet, and when she fell to the ground, he partially undressed her in the hallway before fondling her with his hand and mouth, prosecutors say.

Records show Bennett, who was touring as a keyboardist for Brian Wilson, took her to his room for 35 minutes then left her on a different floor of the hotel.

Her boyfriend reported her missing, and hotel security found her in the hallway. It was when they reviewed security tape that they realized what happened and called police.

In addition to the video, prosecutors say there was DNA evidence recovered and the victim's underwear was found in Bennett's hotel room near the bed.

The woman said she doesn't remember what happened, but the video shows she made attempts to get away from Bennett, according to the DA's office.

The jury had recommended five years in prison for Bennett. Tuesday morning before the sentencing, the victim made a statement before the judge.

She told the court "I feel ugly inside" 18 months after the attack. She told Bennett "had the opportunity to be a hero" after encountering her, both drunk, at the Hard Rock, instead he assaulted her.

Bennett asked for probation in the attack. His wife and brother told the court he has no criminal record. They blamed his alcohol use, but the judge sentenced him to 3 and 2 years for the charges, to be served consecutively.

Bennett could have gotten 25 years, but the jury recommended five.

The victim's attorney, Gloria Allred, said, "She feels that he is being held accountable for the crimes against her and she supports what the jury recommended."

Bennett's attorney plans to appeal, and Allred said she might sue him in a civil case.

Victim's Statement:

Statement from victim's attorney, Gloria Allred: