Nicholas Benson posted $100,000 bail this weekend, gaining his release from the Yolo County Jail just over two weeks after his arrest on weapons charges across the street from the campus.
At the time of his arrest, the 25-year-old Benson was a senior communication major at swag外流. Privacy rules prohibit the university from commenting on disciplinary action, but a Yolo County Superior Court judge, as a condition of releasing Benson on bail, said he must stay away from swag外流.
The judge's order also states that Benson must not possess any firearms. City of Davis police, when they arrested Benson on Jan. 21, confiscated a rifle, shotgun and ammunition.
swag外流 Police Chief Annette Spicuzza said people should call in if they suspect Benson may be on the campus or if they see anything that arouses their suspicion. Call 911 from campus phones or (530) 752-1230 from cell phones.
Click to see a photo of Benson from his initial court appearance, Jan. 26.
At a bail hearing Friday morning (Feb. 4), Judge Timothy L. Fall declined to release Benson on his own recognizance, but he reduced his $1 million bail to $100,000. Benson made bail at 3:30 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 6).
Judge Fall scheduled Benson鈥檚 preliminary hearing for 10 a.m. March 3. The district attorney鈥檚 office has filed a three-count complaint charging Benson with possession of an assault weapon and resisting arrest, both felonies, and carrying a loaded weapon in public, a misdemeanor. The charge of resisting arrest carries an enhancement, namely that he allegedly resisted arrest while in possession of an assault weapon.
The district attorney鈥檚 office did not file a charge of making terrorist threats, as alleged by police when they booked Benson at the county jail.
City of Davis officers took Benson into custody at Fourth and A streets, in the vicinity of Toomey Field at the east edge of the campus. In his nearby truck, police said, they found a loaded rifle with a telescopic sight, and a loaded shotgun. Officers said they also found hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition in Benson鈥檚 possession.
Police used a Taser in arresting Benson. Officers began searching for him around 6 p.m. that day after hearing from a family member who said Benson was distraught and suicidal, according to a news release from the Police Department.
At Benson鈥檚 initial court appearance on Jan. 26, his attorney sought to have his client released to a locked facility where he could be evaluated and treated.
During the Feb. 4 bail hearing, Benson鈥檚 attorney sought his client鈥檚 release on his own recognizance, that is, without bail. The judge said no.
Steve Sabbadini, Benson鈥檚 attorney, said outside court last week: 鈥淭his was a case where he was more of a danger to himself than to others.
"Essentially (it was) just a meltdown that has to be addressed,鈥 Sabbadini said.
Media Resources
Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu