Beyer Sentenced Nearly Nine Years For Bias Crime And Assault

(KNSI) – The suspect convicted of deliberately crashing an unoccupied SUV into the Cold Spring home of a multi-racial family has been sentenced.

Judge Andrew Pearson sentenced Benton Louis Beyer to 105 months, just under nine years. Beyer will be forced to serve at least five years, 10 months in prison. He was credited with 489 days already served, nearly a year and a half.

Beyer could be out of prison by spring 2027. The sentence handed down matched the recommendation of the prosecutor.

A document filed in court this week by Beyer’s attorney had asked for a lesser sentence citing a rough upbringing, mental health, and substance abuse issues.

Beyer was convicted in September of stalking and second-degree assault motivated by bias. A jury found Beyer guilty of stalking, violations of harassment restraining orders, first-degree criminal damage to property, theft of a motor vehicle, and multiple counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The jury further found that the stalking and second-degree assault charges were motivated by bias against the victims based upon the victims’ race or household members. Prosecutors also tacked on aggravating factors, saying the crimes were committed “in the presence of a child who saw, heard, witnessed, or otherwise perceived the offense.” The jury agreed.

Beyer allegedly became fixated on Andrea Robinson and her family after his girlfriend cheated on him with a Black man. Andrea is white. Her husband is Black, and they have biracial children. Prosecutors said Beyer was stalking and harassing the family for several months, and in July of 2021, Beyer crashed an SUV into the side of the Robinsons’ house. One of the children was sleeping near the impact site in the living room. The Robinson’s home is near where Beyer’s ex-girlfriend worked and roughly six blocks from where Beyer and his girlfriend lived.

Restitution asked for by the insurance company was waived. He will still owe approximately $7,000 in restitution.

Reporter Grant Dossetto contributed to this article.

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