Bennett freshman has adult charges dropped in preliminary hearing

According to Wicomico Co. Deputy State’s Attorney Ella Disharoon, the 15-year old freshman boy at James M. Bennett High School, originally charged as an adult with Attempted first degree Rape and Attempted First Degree Sexual Offense, has had those charges dropped.

Disharoon says the charges of Attempted first degree Rape and Attempted First Degree Sexual Offense were dropped after a preliminary hearing in Wicomico Co. District Court.

The teen still faces several charges including Assault charges, however Disharoon says they will be in juvenile court.

For now, the teen will face charges as a juvenile, unless juvenile prosecutors file a motion to have him waived to adult status, which then has to be approved by a judge, she says.

The teen is accused of trying to rape a female student in a back staircase at Bennett High back on April 6.

According to police, the teen was controlling her movement physically to include choking her, pulling her hair and pinning her down on the stairwell and the floor and pinning her against the wall.

A faculty member reportedly saw the incident occurring on surveillance and went to break up the assault, police say.

Authorities say the male student was dismissed from school, and arrested after an investigation by WBI on April 7.