25-time Wasilla convict charged with auto theft

PALMER -- A Wasilla man who wracked up 25 convictions since 1989 and had three cases pending in Palmer courts was served an arrest warrant Feb. 8 for allegedly stealing a car in Anchorage in December.

Donald Benedix, 38, was at the Cordova Center where he was sent pending the disposition of the three Palmer cases against him until Alaska State Troopers served an arrest warrant Feb. 8 for first-degree theft and he was taken to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Benedix appeared in court Thursday to enter a change of plea, but defense attorney Nancy Driscoll asked for more time to assemble witnesses who could testify on Benedix' behalf before he is sentenced.

On Aug. 8, Benedix had been arrested for assault and theft after Carrs employees reportedly watched him stuff $159.37 in merchandise down his coat and into pockets.

According to court records, the Carrs loss prevention officer followed Benedix and his girlfriend to the parking lot to recover the stolen goods. When police arrived, Benedix was allegedly fighting the store employee who was struggling to restrain him, resulting in the assault charge.

On Oct. 31, Benedix was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He reportedly told a Wasilla police officer he had stopped off for a few beers.

That was Benedix' seventh DWI arrest in 16 years, according to court records. He had DWI convictions in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995, and 12 violations for driving with his license revoked.

The latest charge of theft stemmed from a December incident. When a man digging his vehicle out of a ditch in Anchorage was questioned by troopers he told them Benedix had driven his car and got it stuck in the snow, but he didn't want to press charges. Troopers reportedly went to the man's house, where Benedix was staying, and found another car that was reported stolen. No charges were made in that incident until Friday.

In late January, Driscoll filed a motion with Magistrate David Zwink to allow Benedix to leave the Cordova Center in the care of his sister-in-law, in order to be transported to appointments and returned afterwards.

According to the motion, Benedix wanted to enter into treatment for substance abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Bob Collins made strong objections opposing the idea.

"The defendant has 25 criminal convictions since 1989. He has a severe substance abuse problem," Collins wrote in his opposing motion. "The defendant is unlikely to comply with any court order. He needs a lock-down facility for treatment."

Zwink allowed Benedix to leave the Cordova Center with a court-approved, third-party custodian, but required that he remain in full sight and sound at all times.

Benedix's change-of-plea proceedings and sentencing is rescheduled for March 11. Collins agreed to combine the three pending charges -- assault, theft and the DWI. He said the new vehicle theft charge probably would not affect his own recommendations for dispensing with the three charges.

If Benedix is convicted on the recent charges, he will have around 29 convictions on his record for the past 16 years. According to his attorney, Benedix has said he is interested in receiving treatment during jail time.