Benson hearing set, as he proclaims innocence

AUSTIN, Texas — The next legal step for Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson is a May 19 court hearing.

However, Benson — the former Texas running back who was arrested Saturday night on misdemeanor charges that he was driving a boat on Lake Travis while intoxicated and resisting arrest — does not have to be present at the hearing.

The case has been assigned to Judge Elisabeth Earle's court, but the Travis County Court administrator will be conducting the initial hearing.

Benson spoke briefly with the American-Statesman Monday. He said he was innocent of all charges and that he was polite to the arresting officer from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

According to a press release from the LCRA, the arresting officer said Benson was combative and "easily capable of overpowering me," which prompted the officer to pepper spray Benson.

Brian Carney, Benson's attorney, spoke with Chicago radio station WMVP-AM Monday. He said of Benson's state of mind after the arrest: "It's demoralizing, it shakes you up. You have a lot of people coming to the conclusion that you have done something wrong, because all you have is the police reports and their version of what went on.

"Because of the fact that you haven't had any criminal prosecution, you are very reluctant to say much."

Suzanne Halliburton writes for the Austin American-Statesman.