Garfield Bennett appears for central judicial processing via video from the Atlantic County jail.
A Pleasantville man accused of stealing instruments from the band Heart during their Atlantic City show was confused about why he was in jail Friday.
Garfield Bennett, 57, allegedly stole a guitar valued at $2,000 that was custom-made for Nancy Wilson on May 30, a day before Heart took the Mark Etess stage at the Hard Rock. Bennett also allegedly took a $3,000 1956 Gibson mandolin.
He appeared via video from the jail for central processing court Friday before Judge Timothy Maguire.
"I was on the street for that already," Bennett told the judge when he heard his charges were burglary and theft for unlawful taking. "So why am I being detained for that?"
Public defender Sarah Weinstock confirmed that she was in court Tuesday with Bennett on similar charges, but at that time they were told about another warrant that needed to be processed.
Assistant Prosecutor Alexandria Peters clarified that it was an arraignment in a separate case from April.
In that incident, Bennett is one of three suspects who allegedly broke into Shore Wave at 1323 Boardwalk on April 9, according to the charges.
The burglars stole about $10,000 in property and caused another $10,000 in damages, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The Heart case is actually the third open case for Bennett. He also has a possession charge for crack cocaine from April 10.
Bennett indicated he has not had any issues since 2015, where court records show a string of shoplifting cases.
But BreakingAC confirmed he also has two cases in Florida out of Orange County.
Bennett will remain in the Atlantic County jail until at least Tuesday, when he has a scheduled detention hearing.
