Opinion ID: 4530962
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Indictment and Appointment of Counsel

Text: On January 14, 1986, Benson was arraigned. He was charged in a 14-count complaint with murder, child molestation, arson, and kidnapping. That afternoon he appeared in court and was advised of his right to counsel. Although Benson initially said he did not want an attorney, the court appointed counsel, and advised Benson that the charges carried the possibility of the death penalty. After conferring with counsel, when Benson was again asked whether he wanted counsel, he responded: I do desire counsel, your honor. It turns out, in my interrogation with the deputies, I was led to believe that, according to them, California no longer had a death penalty. Because of that, we were just talking years, not life. Because of that, I didn’t feel that the expenditure of the court was warranted in something that was inevitable to happen.