I am disgusted beyond measure with the so called justice handed out by Shasta County District Attorney Steve Carlton regarding the plea bargain offered to former Anderson Police Officer Bryan Benson.

Didn’t Carlton say that if he was elected District Attorney that he would be tough on crime ?

How tough is it when he plea bargains to turn loose an outlaw police officer without the punishment the officer earned with his amoral criminal behavior?

Carlton calls it a loophole in the law.

Benson was accused of and pleaded no contest to raping his victim while he had her in his custody. With his plea, he admitted to the act. There is no excuse for him except that he thought he could get away with it.

Even if he claims the victim offered it, that does not excuse him. As an officer of the law, it was his sworn duty to prevent any such behavior.

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding where the rape took place, Benson was taking the victim to jail. He was dressed in his duty uniform and armed with his belt and gun.

Rape wasn’t the only charge against Benson.

The Valley Post reported at least six other charges, including kidnapping, that allegedly occurred after Anderson Police Officer Matthew Goodwin turned an arrested woman over to Benson.

This indicates to me that Benson had an opportunity to plan his crimes, thus expanding his culpability.

The woman was arrested by Officer Matthew Goodwin for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicants while she was observed traveling along Balls Ferry Road. Shortly after the traffic stop, Officer Bryan Benson and an Anderson police detective arrived separately at the scene as additional backup for Goodwin.

The detective was going to take the arrested woman to the Shasta County Jail.

Benson protested, saying he could do it.

That was when he took custody, reportedly removed the woman’s handcuffs, administered a breathalyzer test and then placed the woman in the front seat of his unmarked patrol car. While en route to the jail, which is located 10 miles to the north in Redding, Benson and the woman allegedly had a two way conversation initiated by the police officer.

Benson is alleged to have talked about and even demanded a sexual act from the woman as he was driving.

The woman reportedly refused his repeated advances.

Investigators from the Redding Police Department reported that was when Benson allegedly pulled off the road, but apparently he couldn’t find a place secluded enough for what he wanted to do until near the jail where he took her from the car in a desrted parking lot and the alleged rape took place.

Benson, by his actions, has proved himself to be a sexual predator.

Yet, the law in Shasta County just gave him three years to wipe a felony off his record so he’ll go free to possibly victimize other women.

And Carlton calls that justice?