LOGAN — A 46-year-old Logan man has been sent back to prison, after confessing to an altercation last year that could have severely injured law enforcement officers or the public. Berenger Benally was ordered to serve 1-15-years behind bars.
Benally was sentenced in 1st District Court Tuesday afternoon. He previously pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; and three class A misdemeanors.
On the night of September 15, police received a report that Benally was near the North Logan Walmart. He allegedly planned to shoot not only himself, but other people, including officers. He was seen with a gun concealed in his waistband.
Police chased Benally through the parking lot and tackled him as he tried to enter the store. During the scuffle, the defendant pulled a .22 revolver from his waistband and fired a single shot, striking his own leg in the upper right thigh.
Officers used a stun gun on Benally, allowing them to take possession of the gun and administer first aid before he was transported to Logan Regional Hospital for medical treatment.
During Tuesday’s sentencing, Benally told the court he was sorry and tired of the life he had been living. He explained that he wished people knew what he had to go through. He said, “I just want to be free and live a good life.”
Cache County deputy attorney Griffin Hazard called Benally a danger to society. He asked the court to send him to prison, explaining that the defendant leaves a wake of victims every time he commits a crime.
Judge Kevin Allen agreed with Hazard and issued the maximum sentence for each of the charges Benally pleaded guilty to. He expressed hope that the defendant will change his life but said he couldn’t ignore what he did.
I really feel bad for the writer here who to has to cover the constant creepy Cache Valley men crime syndicate – seemingly every day.