Pepperdine President's Son Pleads No Contest To Making Criminal Threats Against His Father

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — The 27-year-old son of Pepperdine University's president pleaded no contest Friday to threatening his father.

Christopher Andrew Benton faces two years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 21, Deputy District Attorney Rena Durrant said.

Benton, the son of Pepperdine University President Andrew K. Benton, had been awaiting a hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to try him on criminal threats and weapons charges.

Three other counts are expected to be dismissed when he is sentenced.

Benton was arrested Aug. 23 by Los Angeles County sheriff's personnel at the Malibu campus, a day after threatening his father during a family argument. He has been in custody since then.

According to the criminal complaint, he was convicted in two drug-related cases in 2005 and 2009 and a petty theft case in 2003.

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