Michael Bennett will have felony charge dismissed

Patriots defensive end Michael Bennett was originally accused of injuring the elderly, but the felony charge against him now stands to get dismissed.

Michael Bennett really wanted to get down on the field in a hurry at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, back on February 5, 2017. That’s because his brother Martellus Bennett, then a tight end with the New England Patriots, had just made history by coming back from a 25-point deficit to win Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.

Along the way, Bennett allegedly pushed past a 66-year-old paraplegic security guard, who later claimed to have suffered a sprained shoulder as she attempted to halt Bennett’s access to the field. After she made her report to the Harris County District Attorney’s office, an arrest warrant was issued for Bennett, who promptly turned himself in.

Fast-forward to a year ago, and Bennett was indicted by a grand jury and informed that he could be facing up to 10 years of prison time and a $10,000 fine. Thankfully for the newly-acquired Patriots defensive end, though, news broke on Wednesday that the prosecution for the case had moved to dismiss the felony charge entirely.

"“After looking at all the evidence and applying the law, a crime could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Harris County D.A.’s Office chief of staff Vivian King said in a release. “There was probable cause to warrant a charge initially, but after a careful review of all the pre-charge and post-charge evidence, we cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt. We dismissed this case in the interest of justice. After looking at all the evidence, this was the right thing to do.”"

Michael Bennett and a seventh-round draft pick were traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots last month in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Bennett recently received a modest pay raise when New England restructured his contract, in a move that also affords the Patriots more salary cap space this season.

The veteran pass-rusher is expected to hep fill the void left by defensive end Trey Flowers’ defection to the Detroit Lions.