CALAIS, Maine- A man from Maine used an air mattress to float across the St. Croix River in southeastern Maine and illegally enter New Brunswick late Wednesday, according to CBC News in New Brunswick.
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Thorn said Bennett was desperate to see his pregnant girlfriend.
After attempting and failing to enter the country through an official border station, Bennett went to the local Walmart and bought both an air mattress and a paddle that he subsequently used to cross the river into Canada.
Prosecuting lawyer Peter Thorn said: “He was told by the officer that until he got those cleared up, he wouldn’t be admitted into Canada”.
Police said that Bennett had tried to cross legally, but had been turned away at the border.
Bennett was taken into custody and charged from the illegal crossing. “He said he felt his fiancée may be in danger from a violent ex-boyfriend and he thought it was the proper thing to do”, Thorn said.
Prior to pleading guilty on Thursday, Bennett told police he was anxious for the safety of his pregnant girlfriend, The Globe notes. Canadian officials said they found walking down a road in New Brunswick with his clothes sopping wet. As a result, he was sentenced to two months in jail and will also be deported to the US after his sentence is over.
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Bennett, who has no fixed address but has a post office box in Calais, is a suspect in a criminal mischief case from June, said Sgt. William White of the Calais Police Department.
