Man accused of assaulting detention officers at Boone County Jail

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County Jail inmate was accused of assaulting three detention officers on Saturday.

William Benz, 35, of Columbia, was charged with second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault and a count of first-degree property damage. He’s being held at the jail without bond. An initial court appearance was set for Monday.

According to the probable cause statement, Benz assaulted three officers after he was moved from a previous cell. Officers removed his handcuffs and he began assaulting them and caused them to require medical attention at an area hospital, the statement says. Benz also allegedly damaged two pairs of glasses valued at $800, the statement says.

Court records show Benz is serving a one-year sentence at the jail for three counts of fourth-degree assault. He pleaded guilty to those misdemeanor charges on July 19, 2023. In another case, he was sentenced to five years of probation for second-degree burglary with a four-year suspended sentence. A hearing in that case is set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 13.