Benedict sentenced to 12 months in jail; must serve one in jail; rest work crew, house arrest
posted 09/23/2008
A photo of Jarvis Teasdale stood on the easel at the front of the packed courtroom as San Juan County Superior Court Judge John Linde sentenced Robert Benedict to 12 months in jail for the accident which took Teasdale's life. Linde structured the sentence to one month in county jail; three months on work crew; and eight months under house arrest.
He must work in a court-approved job. Working for his current employer Harbor Rentals amd Saw Shop qualifies.
The sentencing followed a three-hour emotional hearing during which community members asked for leniency. Benedict has diminished social and learning skills due to fetal alcohol syndrome. One community member said, "We've already lost enough. This young man does not belong in a criminal environment he is not a criminal."
Attorney Carla Higginson said, "It's like putting a 10-year-boy in an adult jail."
The victim's mother, Janelle Teasdale, asked that Benedict not be placed in a penal institution and instead work without pay with the county road crew to pay back the costs involved to the law and justice department.
Judge Linde said, "I did sentence you to thirty days because there is a lesson to be learned. It will be like 18 months for any other defendant. There is a lesson to be learned...It is a terrible situation all around. I know Mr. Benedict feels the loss of his good friend maybe more than anyone except for Jarvis' parents."
Benedict enters plea to vehicular homicide;
sentencing Sept. 23
posted 09/04/2008
Believing he was innocent but would be found guilty, Robert Benedict, 26, used the Alford plea to plead guilty to one count of vehicular homicide yesterday in San Juan County Superior Court. He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. September 23, 2008. The charge relates to the March 5, 2007 crash which claimed the life of Jarvis Teasdale.
San Juan County Deputy Prosecutor Charlie Silverman is recommending a sentence of six months in jail, three months on the work crew and three months on work release. Benedict would be required to pay $500 to the crime victims fund and restitution to the victim's family. The standard sentence range is 15 to 20 months in custody and 18 to 36 months in community custody.
The judge is not bound to abide by the prosecution's recommendations. The prosecutor told the court the victim's mother was in agreement with the recommended sentence.
The prosecution believes Benedict was the driver in the crash. The defense believes one of the other two occupants was driving. Benedict has no memory of the crash and the defense argues it is to the other survivor's advantage to say she was not the driver.
Last month, Judge John Linde ruled against a defense motion saying the defendant was incompetent to stand trial.
Vehicular homicide charge filed in March 5 car crash
posted 05/17/2007
A charge of vehicular homicide has been filed against Robert Nathan Benedict, 24, in San Juan County Superior Court. According to court documents filed May 14, 2007 Benedict was the driver of the car which crashed in a field off of Cattle Point Road March 5, 2007. Jarvis Teasdale was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Benedict and the other passenger Amber Beeston have both recovered from their injuries.
According to the report filed by Det. Brent Johnson, the three stopped at the Little Store shortly before 10 p.m. According to a witness, Benedict was driving the vehicle and got out to give her a hug. Beeston bought some gas, Teasdale purchased some beer. Beeston told the witness it was her car, but Benedict was driving because she was too intoxicated. The three got back into the car, Benedict was driving according to the report.
Ten minutes later, aid units and deputies responded to a report of a car crash. Beeston allegedly told aid personnel Benedict was driving and the car left the road and started rolling. When it stopped, she took off her seatbelt and managed to crawl out before the car caught fire. She went to summon help.
According to the report, a neighbor found Benedict confused and disoriented walking nearby. Teasdale's body was found by rescue workers. Reconstruction of the accident leads deputies to believe the car was traveling over 70 mph in a 45 mph zone when it crossed into the oncoming lane, slid sideways into a field, started to roll, collided with a boulder, and eventually came to rest.
Vehicular homicide is a Class C felony and carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and/or a $50,000 fine. Benedict is scheduled to enter a plea at 9 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2007.
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