Repeat offender sentenced on variety of charges

PALMER -- A Wasilla man was sentenced last week to 27 months in jail for a combination of convictions stemming from a shoplifting incident and a drunk-driving conviction.

Donald Benedix, 38, entered a plea of no contest to fourth-degree assault, third-degree theft, DWI and driving with a revoked license Wednesday before Magistrate David Zwink sentenced him.

Zwink ordered Benedix to 30 days in jail for the theft, 30 days for assault, 30 days for a failure to appear in court, 365 days for DWI, 6 months on the driving with a revoked license conviction and 6 months for two probation violations. He also placed him on probation for 10 years and required Benedix to undergo substance-abuse treatment.

Benedix now has had more than 30 convictions since 1989, 13 of which were from driving with a revoked license. Most of his brushes with the law relate to a substance-abuse problem, according to testimony at his sentencing. In the past several months, according to family and friends, Benedix has made substantial effort to change his life by seeking out treatment and receiving religious counseling.

Zwink said he was glad to hear Benedix is changing his life around. Zwink has seen the 38-year-old several times before in his court room.

"For the life of me I can't remember what I ever said to you before, Mr. Benedix. Maybe you can tell me. I guess we get what we create for ourselves," Zwink said. "I'm glad to hear you have changed your method of creation."

On Aug. 8, Benedix was 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 reportedly fighting the store employee who was struggling to restrain him, which resulted in the assault charge.

On Oct. 31, Benedix was arrested for driving while intoxicated. 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.

Zwink told Benedix he wants to see a real turnaround in his behavior, and "not just jailhouse illusion."

"It seems I am being sentenced harshly," Benedix told Zwink after he was sentenced.

Zwink said he gave Benedix the minimum on most his convictions, with only the DWI conviction being the maximum sentence, on the grounds that Benedix is a worst offender in that category.

Benedix is currently being held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. Earlier this year Zwink approved his move to the Cordova Center with the stipulation of a bond posted for bail. In that arrangement, the center was to be Benedix' third-party custodian during his pre-sentence time, a relatively new arrangement to ease over-crowding in jail.

But Benedix was not moved to the center and instead was placed on a wait list. Initially, it was reported that Benedix was at the Cordova Center when troopers served him with a warrant for an alleged car theft. He in fact remained at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Car theft charges were dropped in that case, court records show.