Yep it is a disgrace to award Cedric Benson the Doak Walker Award.
Doak really must be rolling over in his grave!
Look at this hooligan!
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Benson arrested on drug, alcohol charges
ARREST #1
AUSTIN (AP) - University of Texas running back Cedric Benson faces misdemeanor marijuana and alcohol possession charges after being
arrested in his hometown of Midland over the weekend.
Midland police said Monday they arrested the Big 12 freshman of the year about 2 a.m. Saturday after responding to a call about loud music at an apartment.
Benson, 19, was charged with possession of marijuana under 2 ounces and drug paraphernalia and being a minor in possession of alcohol. He was released from the Midland County Central Detention Center after posting $1,365 bail that morning.
If convicted on the marijuana possession charge - a Class B misdemeanor - Benson faces up to a $2,000 fine and six months in jail.
The paraphernalia and minor in possession of alcohol charges are Class C misdemeanor offenses and carry up to a $500 fine each.
Melanie Robinson, 20, also was arrested on the same charges and was released after posting bail, said Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter.
Texas coach Mack Brown, who said he has talked to Benson, said he couldn't comment on the arrest and charges but called Benson "a great young man who we've really enjoyed having in our program."
"One thing we have really prided ourselves on in our program is our family atmosphere and this will be handled within our family," the coach said.
Considered the star of Texas' 2001 recruiting class, Benson became a starter midway through the season and set UT freshman record with 1,053 yards on 223 carries. He scored 12 touchdowns.
Benson starred at Midland Lee High School where he was a high school All-American and led the Rebels to three consecutive state championships. Midland is about 350 miles northwest of Austin.
Midland police said they didn't know who Benson was until he was booked at the jail. In his jail mugshot, a somber-looking Benson is still wearing his signature dreadlocks hairstyle.
"We weren't targeting him or anything," Sgt. Dale Seago told the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
"Nobody really knew who was who."
Initially, Benson and Robinson resisted letting Officer Jeff Handley into the apartment, said Midland police spokeswoman Tina Jauz.
Handley eventually was allowed inside and found alcohol and marijuana.
"The marijuana was in a couple of places," Jauz said.
She said she didn't have further details on what was found.
Benson also was a standout baseball player in high school and was drafted last year by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round last June.
He is expected to play in the minor leagues this summer.
A Dodgers spokeswoman said the team did not know about Benson's arrest and refused comment.
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Arrest #2
Other criminal matters
Texas senior running back Cedric Benson was sentenced to eight days in jail after pleading no contest to misdemeanor criminal trespassing for
forcing his way into an Austin apartment in 2003.
But due to crowding at the jail and credit for good behavior, he will likely only spend a fraction of that time – if any – behind bars.
"We don't have beds available," said Travis County sheriff's spokesman Roger Wade.
Police said Benson forced his way into an apartment last October to search for a stolen television.
The charge was punishable by up to a year in jail. Travis County Judge Elizabeth Earle also ordered Benson to pay a $1,000 fine and up to $600 in restitution for the apartment's damaged door and court costs, said Benson's attorney, Brian Carney.
Benson will be with the Longhorns when the team reports to training camp on Monday.
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