Benson sentenced for possession of a firearm

Brian David Benson, 41, of Vernon, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon following his plea of guilty. The sentence was handed down by District Judge Dan Mike Bird during recent proceedings of the 46th Judicial District Court in Vernon.
On April 26, 2021, a Vernon police officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Benson for disregarding a stop sign. Rather than pull over, Benson fled for several blocks prior to pulling into the driveway of an unoccupied house. As officers looked in the vicinity of Benson’s pickup, they noted a small cloth bag with the handle of a pistol sticking up near a trash can several feet away from the driver’s side door of the pickup.
Benson, who has previous felony convictions, disclaimed any knowledge or ownership of the firearm. Vernon police sent the weapon to the DPS crime lab where DNA analysis linked the handgun to Benson.