Men accused to domestic violence in separate cases return to court

PALMER— Jeremy Bendt 30, of Wasilla, and Orrin Pinard, 31, of Talkeetna, had another pre-trial conference Friday at the Palmer Courthouse. Their alleged crimes are completely unrelated and took place at total opposite sides of the Valley.

Both defendants have been accused of domestic violence and their recent coincidently landed on the same days and in the same court rooms as the judge, state and attorneys sorted through stacks of cases in and out of custody; both cases have been pushed again, Bendt with another pre-trial conference Oct. 19 at 8:30 a.m. and Pinard with another pre-trial conference Nov. 16 at 9 a.m., finally breaking the streak of legal happenstance.

Bendt, in custody, is currently facing several felony charges, including attempted murder, assault, criminal mischief and so on. Troopers indicated in their report that he assaulted and choked a woman unconscious in a Palmer-area cemetery July 22 around 2:15 a.m.

Pinard has been in court for several other cases spanning over several years with multiple allegations. Pinard is looking at several charges in his combined cases, including multiple assault charges and criminal mischief, according to court documents. Pinard, currently in custody at the Cook Inlet Pretrial facility, telephoned into the courtroom on Friday. His defense attorney, Monica Colbath stated that Pinard required two people transport him.