Bennett waives first court appearance in boat crash case

GAINESVILLE - Officials with Gainesville Magistrate Court said Monday that Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming has waived his first court appearance in connection with a fatal boat crash on Lake Lanier earlier this summer.

Bennett had originally been scheduled to appear in court Saturday, but that appearance was delayed until Monday.

In an e-mail, District Attorney Lee Darragh said that Judge Kathleen Gosselin set a bond of $50,000 with conditions for Bennett. His release pending trial is anticipated at some point Monday. Darragh said since there is an indictment pending, the next step in the process will be a formal arraignment before Judge Gosselin, which has not yet been scheduled.

The Cumming man faces a long list of charges, including eight counts of homicide by vessel in the first degree, in connection with the deaths of Jake Prince, 9, and Griffin Prince, 13, of Buford. The brothers were passengers on board a pontoon boat that was struck the night of June 18. Bennett is said to have been the operator of that boat.