Man who stalked Jerry Lewis faces new charge

Kim Smith

Friday, May 19, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

The man who went to prison for stalking Jerry Lewis made his initial appearance in court this morning on a new stalking charge.

Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Michael Van set Gary Benson's preliminary hearing for June 2.

Benson was arrested earlier this month in Wyoming after Lewis reportedly received a letter at his Las Vegas home on April 11 that read, "Dear Jerry, Your Dead." The letter was signed, "Your friend, Gary Benson."

The envelope was dated April 5 and had a postmark of Casper, Wyo. Benson was arrested at a Sheridan County, Wyo., Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

The FBI arrested Benson on a felony aggravated stalking charge and on a violation of an extended protective order charge. Chief Deputy District Attorney Abbi Silver said she intends to seek a life sentence for Benson as a habitual criminal.

In 1989 Lewis obtained for his then-housekeeper a lengthy police record on Benson after she told Lewis that she planned to marry Benson. She then told Benson about the report, and he began making harassing phone calls to Lewis' home and office.

Benson was arrested in February 1994, and he pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking in May 1995 and was placed on probation with the understanding that if he did not undergo mental health treatment, he could end up in prison for six years.

Benson reportedly continued to harass Lewis and spent the next three years in and out of jail and mental health facilities.

In July 1998 Benson's probation was revoked, and he was sent to prison. He was released in September 1999 and was warned by Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti to stay away from Lewis.

Dr. Clifford Kuhn, who has studied the Benson case at Lewis' request, believes Benson is extremely dangerous.

In a memo written to Lewis, Kuhn wrote, "Gary Randolph Benson is suffering from a chronic schizophrenic illness for which there is no apparent effective treatment. He is periodically seized without warning by unpredictable homicidal decisions and impulses and, as such, should be considered potentially extremely dangerous at all times."

Right before Benson was released from prison, Kuhn told Lewis that "killing you will be his highest priority the instant he is released from incarceration."