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A University of Wisconsin freshman who allegedly pulled a knife on two students in Witte Hall pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance Monday morning.�
The incident occurred Feb. 1 when an inebriated Brandon Benson returned to his residence and held a knife to another student�s throat and threatened his roommate, according to a police report.
The police report indicates that Benson, who had a blood alcohol content of .196, pulled a three-inch, black-handled blade from his right pocket and held it to the throat of Sengasi Vang, another Witte resident.
The Dane County District Attorney’s Office charged Benson with disorderly conduct while using a dangerous weapon � a misdemeanor crime.
The maximum penalty for first-time offenders like Benson is nine months in jail and a $1,000 fine. In addition, his underage drinking maximum citation is $375.
However, because Benson is a first-time offender, it is unlikely he will receive these penalties in full.
�Similarly situated defendants usually enter a first-offender program where they receive drug and alcohol assessment, complete community service and counseling,� said Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer. �If this program is successfully completed then the charges are removed from the person�s record.�
Benson represented himself at the hearing and has yet to obtain a lawyer. He paid bail Feb. 1, and the court laid out Monday the conditions for receiving the money back, in addition to meeting his court appearances.
Benson verbally agreed not to consume any alcohol, not to bear any dangerous weapons and not to have contact with Vang. However, Benson is still allowed contact with his roommate.
�Benson may still have been friends with his roommate, and the roommate did not seem as concerned for his personal safety,� said Verveer.
Benson will receive the date for his next court appearance in the mail.
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You’re a disgrace to UW-Madison, Bensen. Just thought you should know that. You’ve been reduced to a lowly criminal. As one of your peers in Witte, I’ve seen you drink before. You are a violent, nearly psychotic drunk. I do not mean to push the comment standards of the Badger Herald, but it is the only word to describe your behavior. People told you many times to stop drinking. You were warned. You did not care. Look where you are now. Luckily for you the university and city take pity on first offenders.
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Psh. I originally felt bad for the kid (I’ve met him multiple times).
But you know what? He’s handled this whole thing really poorly. Good luck getting a job with your name in the papers for pulling a knife on somebody. Good luck staying at the UW period.
Go join the Army. We need some crazy kids like you in Iraq right now.
In the meantime, get a fucking lawyer. And stop talking to the badger herald.
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he is not guilty because he was too drunk to remember any of it….
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guy musta been drunk when he dressed himself for court….
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5:09 I hope your comment was a joke. Being too drunk doesn’t negate the mental element of the crime. Did someone force him to drink? Not sure why this guy pleaded Not Guilty..all the evidence is against him and he practically admitted he did it to the Herald last wk.
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Not guilty?!? Wtf is your defense, Benson? You didn’t do it?!?
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hahahah What a Loser!!!
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Anonymous (February 26, 2008 @ 5:11am): guy musta been drunk when he dressed himself for court….
ZING!
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It is because of things like this that I chose not to go to UW-Madison. Thanks for reassuring me in my decision Brandon Bensen.
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I don’t know the guy but I hope as part of his sentencing they get him some alcohol counseling
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“A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client.”
As if there was any doubt about the fool part.
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Did the BH report on Friday or whatever that he said he was going to plead guilty?!
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To 3:20PM: You chose not to go to UW-Madison because you didn’t get in - so you probably go to Marquette. And you wish you went to Madison so you live vicariously through the Badger Herald. ZING!
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You can called it “alleged” all you want, but we all know he did it.
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“It is because of things like this that I chose not to go to UW-Madison. Thanks for reassuring me in my decision Brandon Bensen.”
Then I’m glad you didn’t come here, too. There is so much more to this campus than drunk undergrads, but it takes a certain type of person to find it. You might not have had it.
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So maybe this guy is a ‘violent, nearly psychotic drunk’ but that doesn’t mean you should hate him. If he thought exactly the way you do, he wouldn’t have pulled a knife, but he didn’t think that way, he thought his own way, and if we really want to help this guy fit into our society with our values, he needs help far beyond jail time and a hefty fine.
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omg. did you just argue people have a right to “think their own way” with knives and alcohol???!??!!
NO.
FOLLOW OUR STANDARDS.
IF NOT, GO TO JAIL.
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Okay the first criminal court date is run very similar to any ticket court date. Around thrity people were there and they each take their turn with the judge and then leave. With this first hearing, all you do is come in, get a copy of the criminal complaint, hear the conditions of your bail, and the court will contact you with your next date. While the offical paper work says I pleaded not guilty, I was never given the chance to plea one way or the other, everyone at their first court date pleas �not guilty� because they are not given a choice.
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Another piece of advice: Stop talking about it! Pretend like you aren’t dealing with it right now, you coming on BH’s website and bitching just makes you look pathetic.
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So, Brandon, when you get the chance you’re going to plead guilty, pay the fine, and do your community service/counseling/AODA assessment?