Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Idyllwild local Joshua Cody Benson, 21, on suspicion of committing felony assault. The attack took place around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23 near Mountain Top Liquor on Highway 243 when Benson assaulted another man.

The individual assaulted received injuries sufficient to require hospitalization. Paramedics from Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded at 7:39 p.m. and transported the victim to the Riverside County Regional Medical Center in the city of Moreno Valley.

Deputies arrested Benson near Lake Hemet at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, after an investigation. Benson was charged with felony assault with the intent to commit mayhem, felony battery with intent to commit serious bodily injury, felony assault using a firearm, and felony receipt of stolen property. Bail for each assault and battery charge was set at $75,000 and at $50,000 for the stolen property charge.

Benson remains in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning with a hearing date scheduled at Southwest Justice Center in Murietta on Wednesday, May 30.