NY State Police Look For Other Potential Victims After Sexual Misconduct With A Minor Arrest

SAUGERTIES, NY — A middle-aged Ulster County man is accused of sexual abusing a teenager who he plied with alcohol, and police are searching for any other potential victims.

New York State Police announced on Tuesday that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Kingston arrested 42-year-old James M. Benson, of Saugerties, on July 30, after an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct involving a minor and weapons-related offenses.

The investigation began on July 28, after state police received information about Benson engaging in inappropriate conduct with a 17-year-old victim. NYSP say that he is accused of subjecting the victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion and providing the minor with alcohol.

Police say that a search warrant was executed at Benson's home, where evidence led to additional charges related to illegal weapons possession and controlled substances. He was taken into custody at the time.

Benson was charged with felony first-degree sexual abuse (forcible compulsion), misdemeanor first-degree unlawful dealing with a child (alcohol), felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (previous conviction), and misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was arraigned in the Ulster County Court Centralized Arraignment Part and remanded to the Ulster County Jail.

Anyone with information about this case or who believes they may have been victimized by Benson, is being encouraged to contact state police at Middletown at 845-344-5300 and reference RMS NY2500672941.