text: Man, 54, Jailed For Trying To Forcibly Exorcise Devil Out Of His 80-Year-Old Girlfriend Share 
   
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   A 54-year-old Florida man who allegedly sought to perform an exorcism to “get the devil out” of his 80-year-old girlfriend is facing criminal charges for physically restraining his live-in companion against her will, police report. 
   
   According to a complaint affidavit, the victim told Pasco County Sheriff’s Office deputies that David Benes “held her down” late Monday evening in the home they share outside Tampa (the couple has been in a relationship for three years). 
   
   The woman told investigators that Benes was trying to “exorcise her and get the devil out of her” against her will. The affidavit does not describe why Benes believed an exorcism was warranted. The woman called 911 yesterday after Benes allegedly resumed his “exorcising” attempts. 
   
   Officers noted that the octogenarian had bruises and scratches on her arms, injuries that occurred during the confrontation with Benes. The woman also told deputies that Benes had removed batteries from the home's phones so that she could not call police or her daughter. He also allegedly took her car keys and “dismantled” the garage door. 
   
   Benes, who appeared intoxicated, was passed out on a couch when first contacted by deputies. He subsequently stated that he was too drunk to recall what had transpired, though he did claim to have been “beat up” on the back and shoulders by the elderly woman. 
   
   Seen in the above mug shot, Benes was arrested yesterday on several charges, including battery on a person 65 years or older and false imprisonment. He is currently locked up in the county jail. ||||| HOLIDAY — A 54-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after, deputies say, he held down his 80-year-old girlfriend and tried to perform an exorcism. 
   
   The alleged exorcism started Monday. David Edward Benes and his live-in girlfriend of three years got into a fight, a Pasco Sheriff's report states. He grabbed her, held her down and told her he was trying to "exorcise her and get the devil out of her." 
   
   At some point, Benes took batteries out of the house phones to keep her from calling for help, the report states. He confiscated her car keys and rigged the garage door to keep it from opening. Eventually she fell asleep, according to the report, and on Tuesday the exorcism began again. 
   
   It was unclear who contacted authorities, but deputies found Benes' girlfriend sitting outside the home crying. She had bruised and scratched arms. Benes was on the couch too drunk to remember what happened, the report states. He told deputies his girlfriend started the fight "because she is crazy." 
   
   Benes, of 2633 Albion St., was arrested on charges of domestic battery on a person 65 or older, tampering with a witness and false imprisonment. He remained in the Land O'Lakes jail Wednesday without bail. Records show he's been convicted of battery twice in Pasco County and once of violating a domestic violence injunction. 
   
   Contact Alex Orlando at aorlando@tampabay.com or (727) 869-6247.
target: – A 54-year-old man in, of course, Florida is accused of trying to perform an exorcism on his 80-year-old girlfriend, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Police say David Edward Benes held down his live-in sweetie of three years while trying to "exorcise her and get the devil out of her." He also removed the batteries from the house phone, took her car keys, and monkeyed with the garage door so it wouldn't open. The woman is OK, save for some bruises and scratches on her arms, and Benes faces a slew of charges, including battery on a person 65 or older and false imprisonment. The Smoking Gun has a copy of the complaint affidavit, though it doesn't explain why Benes thought an exorcism was necessary. One clue might be that police found him passed out and drunk on the couch.