Pepperdine President's Son Behind Bars For Allegedly Making Threats

MALIBU (CBS) — Christopher Benton, son of the president of Pepperdine University, is behind bars Thursday for allegedly making criminal threats against his parents.

CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Suraya Fadel says sheriff's deputies swarmed the campus Thursday afternoon to arrest Benton, son of Andrew K. Benton.

Benton's father works and lives on the campus.

Benton, 27,  was accused of making criminal threats against his parents and possessing a loaded handgun.

He's being held at the Lost Hills station.

Steve Whitmore of the LA County Sheriff's department says Benton was arrested for the criminal threats "and for being an ex-felon in possession of a handgun and being an ex-felon in possession of ammunition."

Sheriff's would not tell Fadel who called authorities.

Whitmore said, "We were looking for him overnight.  Security told us that he returned to his father's house, at Pepperdine University, and so we returned. He tried to sneak out a side door. We eventually contained him in another building where he surrendered peacefully."

After officials retraced Benton's steps, they reportedly found a loaded semi-automatic handgun belonging to him.

Also on Thursday evening, Fadel spoke to Katie Wilkins's mom and dad. They both breathed a sigh of relief that Benton was behind bars. Benton is believed to be the last person who saw their daughter alive before she died from a heroin overdose this past April.

Homicide detectives said Benton was "uncooperative" in their investigation into the woman's death.

Detectives would not elaborate what Benton's threats were against his parents but said his bail started at $50,000.

Fadel says Benton will be arraigned sometime next week.