Former physician Mark Benson entered no-contest pleas this afternoon to three charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and two counts of causing injury while drunken driving. In return for his plea, prosecutors dropped several other charges against Benson. At the time of the crash that killed Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child and her daughter, Courtney Bella, Benson had a significant level of the sleep aid Ambien in his system, as well as Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety, and oxycodone, a painkiller. Each of the three homicide counts carry penalties of 15 years in prison and 10 years extended supervision, and prosecutors have indicated they will be asking for substantial prison on first three counts to be served consecutively.
Ultimately, I’m willing to bet Mark Benson will be sentenced to no more than 15 years in prison total on the charges to which he plead no-contest, a sentence that will be much too short.
“Ultimately, I’m willing to bet Mark Benson will be sentenced to no more than 15 years in prison total on the charges to which he plead no-contest, a sentence that will be much too short.”
I hope you are wrong. He deserves life…
Unfortunately, Benson won’t get life, although if he gets the maximum sentence, it could effectively be a life sentence.