Crime & Safety
Bennett Not Guilty of Homicide, Guilty on Other Charges
A Hall County jury renders a verdict in the 2012 Lake Lanier boating deaths trial.
Updated 6:29 p.m.
A Hall County jury Thursday (Nov. 14) found Johns Creek business owner Paul Bennett of Cumming not guilty of homicide by vessel in the 2012 Lake Lanier boating deaths of two Gwinnett County boys.
Bennett was found guilty on other counts -- one count of boating under the influence, two counts of reckless operation of a vessel, and one count of violation of duty to render assistance, according to the Gainesville Times.
Bennett was sentenced to 30 months in prison, 18 months of probation and 340 hours of community service, according to wsbtv.com.
The trial, which began Nov. 4, was over a June 2012 boating collision, in which Buford boys Griffin Prince and Jake Prince were killed. Bennett piloted a boat that crashed into a pontoon boat piloted by the Prince boys' father.
Patch will have updates on this verdict.
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