A rental truck thief was sentenced to 41 months in prison
PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man who pleaded guilty to seven felonies after driving a stolen rental truck the wrong way on a one-way street and grappling with a Clallam County sheriff’s deputy in stinging nettle has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.
Andrew B. admitted. Benson, 29, pleaded guilty to seven felonies on Oct. 25 as part of a plea agreement before a Nov. 6 jury trial. Benson will serve 41 months and one day at the Washington State Correctional Center in Shelton, including the credit for time served, which is determined by the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Under the plea agreement, Judge Loren Erickson of Clallam County Superior Court imposed the following sentence: 364 days on Count 1 (Attempted Assault 3rd Degree – Law Enforcement Officer), Count 2 (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Drugs), and Count 4 (Reckless Endangerment). risk reckless). Count seven (recklessly endangering road workers). The court also imposed 41 months and one day on the third count (attempted evasion), 29 months on the sixth count (attempted evasion), and 90 days on the fifth count (resisting arrest).
Deputy Attorney General Matthew Roberson explained in an email Friday morning that rulings in the Supreme Court will always be served concurrently, not consecutively.
Benson was arrested Sept. 3 for investigation of eluding a police vehicle, DUI drugs, resisting arrest, obstructing a law enforcement officer, reckless endangerment and third-degree driving while license suspended, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He was later charged with 10 felonies, including reckless endangerment of a highway worker, second-degree assault, theft of a motor vehicle, third-degree driving while license suspended, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, evading a police vehicle and DUI.
The incident began on September 3 when sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve a State Department of Corrections warrant on Benson at about 10 p.m. at a home in the Gales Addition area, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies also had probable cause to arrest him on charges of stealing a car and eluding a police officer.
Deputies checked the area but were unable to locate him. A deputy returned to the area around 11:25 p.m. and spotted a rental truck driven by Benson, the sheriff’s office said. It was occupied by a female passenger and a driver, who the deputy identified as Benson.
The deputy asked Benson several times to get out of the truck while the passenger got out and walked away, the sheriff’s office said. The Sheriff’s Office said Benson drove erratically past the deputy, crossing the center line of the road, making deputies suspect Benson may be under the influence.
Deputies obtained supervisor’s permission to pursue Benson for a suspected DUI.
The sheriff’s office said Benson forced other vehicles off the road, drove the wrong way on a one-way street, and nearly hit other vehicles.
Benson drove the truck into a yard at the north end of North Baker Street, stopped, jumped out and ran away, trying to jump over the edge of an embankment, the sheriff’s office said. A deputy grabbed Benson from behind and they both went over the bridge, landing about 10 feet into blackberry and stinging nettle bushes.
Benson was arrested after a short struggle and then told deputies he swallowed a baggie containing about a gram and a half of fentanyl, the sheriff’s office said. Medical personnel were called and Benson was transported to Olympic Medical Center.
After being treated, Benson was booked into the Clallam County Jail.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
