A Libby man with a history with domestic assault charges is again accused of assaulting his girlfriend at a local motel.

Michael James Bennett, 42, is charged with three felonies, including assault with a weapon, partner or family member assault, causing bodily injury, third offense, and destruction of a communication device.

Bennett is being held on $100,000 bail in the Lincoln County Detention Center.

According to the charging document, Bennett committed various offenses between Sept. 27 and Oct. 1.

In his narrative, Libby police officer Vince Smart was called to the county sheriff’s office to speak to a woman who had trouble getting a man, Bennett, out of her motel room. She said he was trashing the room and refused to leave.

The officer said he was familiar with the couple because he assaulted her in the past. Smart said the woman had a black eye, dried blood on the side of her nose, blood on her shirt and several bruises on her arms. She said Bennett wasn’t violent with her that night and didn’t need to go to the hospital. 

Officer Smart noted the woman has defended Bennett in the past. When deputy Cody DeWitt joined the investigation, the woman said Bennett struck her that night. When she told him to leave the room, Bennett allegedly said, “I’ll murder you.” She also said he took her cell phone so she couldn’t call for help. The alleged victim also said Bennett grabbed her inner thighs and squeezed with his hands.

Another deputy took the woman to the hospital while the others went to speak to Bennett. He was not in the motel room, but deputies said the room was a mess and found numerous items with what appeared to be blood on them.

Officer didn’t find Bennett that night, but he was arrested Oct. 10.

A conviction for assault with a weapon may result in a 20-year prison term. Five years is the maximum for a conviction on partner/family assault and six months in the county jail is the max for destroying a cell phone.