Woman charged with attacking mayor

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A Longmeadow woman has been formally charged  in connection with the alleged attack on Agawam Mayor Susan Dawson in April.

After a cause hearing to determine if there was enough evidence, Celesta Benoit was formally charged with two counts of assault and battery.

The alleged attack happened at Max’s Tavern, a Springfield restaurant, on April 8.

Mayor Dawson claimed Benoit attacked her outside the women's bathroom – pulling her hair, throwing her to the ground and kicking her twice.

Benoit released a statement through her attorney on Tuesday. In the statement, Benoit said she witnessed her husband passionately kissing Dawson a year earlier.

Mayor Dawson claimed that she began dating real estate developer Mark Benoit only after he and his wife split up. But Celeste Benoit disputes that, saying the couple separated only after she confronted her husband about the romantic encounter with Dawson.

Dawson's lawyer would not confirm or deny the March 2008 incident, but said that his client was still the victim of an "unprovoked attack."