AUSTIN -- Texas running back Cedric Benson was charged today with forcing his way into an apartment in a search for a stolen television.
Benson was charged with criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted. Bond was set at $10,000. Benson turned himself in to the Travis County Jail and was released, said Brian Carney, his attorney.
"He's a big boy," Carney said. "We'll let the justice system take its course."
Carney said he had not yet read the arrest warrant affidavit laying out the allegations.
Benson is the leading rusher for the No. 19 Longhorns with 498 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Longhorns (5-2) play at Baylor on Saturday.
The Austin American-Statesman first reported Monday that the charges would be made. Texas coach Mack Brown said then that he was aware of the situation but declined further comment.
Benson, 20, is accused of joining three other men in forcing their way into an apartment on Oct. 7 in a search for a television Benson had reported stolen from him in 2002.
According to the arrest warrant, a woman who lived at the apartment told police four men knocked on the door. When she didn't answer, the men tried the doorknob before kicking in the door.
The woman told police that a male with braided hair told her that her roommate had taken his plasma television and he wanted to know where it was. Benson wears his hair in dreadlocks. The woman said the men looked through the apartment for the TV and left when they didn't find it.
The woman said her roommate said she suspected one of the men was Benson. The woman later picked Benson's face out of a photo lineup.
The officer who filed the affidavit, Detective Roger Bailey, said he also suspected Benson was involved because he had investigated the break-in where Benson's TV was stolen. The affidavit said the roommate's boyfriend, who was not named in the affidavit, was a primary suspect in that case.
This isn't Benson's first run-in with the law. Couple years back, he was busted for having liquor and marijuana in his apartment while intertaining a minor in his hometown of Midland, Texas. Somehow, the small town police department dropped the charges!
The 10:00 news interviewed coach Mack Brown and has stated Benson will not play this week's game against Baylor. Texas will most likely start Selvin Young, who is a lot smaller and quicker than Benson.
Benson was charged with criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted. Bond was set at $10,000. Benson turned himself in to the Travis County Jail and was released, said Brian Carney, his attorney.
"He's a big boy," Carney said. "We'll let the justice system take its course."
Carney said he had not yet read the arrest warrant affidavit laying out the allegations.
Benson is the leading rusher for the No. 19 Longhorns with 498 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Longhorns (5-2) play at Baylor on Saturday.
The Austin American-Statesman first reported Monday that the charges would be made. Texas coach Mack Brown said then that he was aware of the situation but declined further comment.
Benson, 20, is accused of joining three other men in forcing their way into an apartment on Oct. 7 in a search for a television Benson had reported stolen from him in 2002.
According to the arrest warrant, a woman who lived at the apartment told police four men knocked on the door. When she didn't answer, the men tried the doorknob before kicking in the door.
The woman told police that a male with braided hair told her that her roommate had taken his plasma television and he wanted to know where it was. Benson wears his hair in dreadlocks. The woman said the men looked through the apartment for the TV and left when they didn't find it.
The woman said her roommate said she suspected one of the men was Benson. The woman later picked Benson's face out of a photo lineup.
The officer who filed the affidavit, Detective Roger Bailey, said he also suspected Benson was involved because he had investigated the break-in where Benson's TV was stolen. The affidavit said the roommate's boyfriend, who was not named in the affidavit, was a primary suspect in that case.
This isn't Benson's first run-in with the law. Couple years back, he was busted for having liquor and marijuana in his apartment while intertaining a minor in his hometown of Midland, Texas. Somehow, the small town police department dropped the charges!
The 10:00 news interviewed coach Mack Brown and has stated Benson will not play this week's game against Baylor. Texas will most likely start Selvin Young, who is a lot smaller and quicker than Benson.
