Hunter
03/22/23
An area transient arrested early Tuesday who repeatedly violated a no-contact order with a woman who has repeatedly made it clear that she no longer wants to have any contact with him has had additional charges filed against him.
43-year-old Benjamin Hayes was issued the no-contact order on January 31st. Since that time, Hayes sent multiple text messages to the woman, threatening physical harm to her, her fiancé, and her mother. He’s also reportedly come to the woman’s residence uninvited multiple times.
Police say he showed up at the victim’s residence last Friday night around 10 o’clock, requesting to be let in. When the woman denied his request, Hayes allegedly slashed three tires on her vehicle with a knife. The woman recorded the incident on her cellphone and provided the footage to police who arrived after Hayes left the scene.
When police arrested Hayes Tuesday morning after once again showing up at the woman’s residence, he was charged with 1st and 3rd degree Harassment, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Controlled Substance, and contempt charges for violating the no-contact order. Hayes has now been charged with 3rd degree Criminal Mischief for the tire slashing incident. His series of actions has also led to authorities charging Hayes with Stalking. If convicted on all counts, including the updated counts, he could now be sentenced to over ten years in prison.