Gary Bennett, who has spent 25 years in prison, may be the fourth person exonerated in Brevard County based on John Preston’s scent dogs. Since being convicted with rape and murder in 1984, Bennett has claimed his innocence. Now he has several innocence projects on his side – New Jersey’s Centurion Ministries and the Innocence Project of Florida. The request for DNA testing in Bennett’s case was filed last Friday.

Florida officials have been pushed for years to run an investigation on all the cases John Preston testified in too see if any others may have been wrongfully convicted, yet Governor Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum and State Attorney Norm Wolfinger still refuse.

“It is simply nonsensical to say that this is the way that the system is supposed to work,” said the Innocence Project of Florida’s Seth Miller, who is serving as local counsel for the Centurion Ministries. “Waiting two-and-a-half decades for a chance at justice is not justice.”

Officials with the Centurion Ministries agree.

Centurion Ministries is a truly miraculous organization. They have exonerated more than 40 people since their founding in 1980. Undoubtedly one of the longest standing innocence projects, exonerating a large amount of people.

For more on John Preston, take a look at our previous blogs about him.

Related posts:

1. Preston and the Magical Dog: Prosecutor relents and candidates weigh in We had a big weekend on the Brevard County/John Preston front.  We we have noted here, here, and here, that...
2. Florida Today blows open John Preston story Yesterday, newspaper Florida Today published an involved exposé on John Preston and his ties to the Brevard County justice system....
3. Examiner.com hits Preston hard with new series Patricia Phillips writes for the Examiner.com out of Oklahoma, but she’s heard of John Preston. That’s how far-flung his chicanery...
4. Gary Bennett article in Florida Today Last week I posted a blog about Gary Bennett, who has spent 25 years in jail due in part to...
5. Florida Today continues posthumous pummeling of Preston Florida Today continues to harp on the need for an independent investigation into the corruption and collusion engendered by John...
6. Orlando Sentinel keeps the pressure on Preston investigation The Orlando Sentinel continued the media flurry today regarding John Preston and his magic dog. The story continues to spread,...