BUCYRUS— A Galion Police Detective testified about the initial investigation involving sex crimes allegedly committed by Joshua Benedict upon a then nine-year-old victim.
Detective Bob Burkey, a longtime officer of the Galion Police Department, met with the parents of the child who filed the complaint against Benedict.
Burkey told the jury he sought the assistance of Crawford County Children’s Services to conduct the initial questioning of the victim. The child refused to speak with a male about the abuse. In an effort to comfort the parents of the victim, he assured them the case would be prosecuted.
Burkey told the court he fashioned questions for the social worker to ask the victim.
Defense attorney Adam Stone suggested the Burkey had presumed that his client was guilty. Stone pointed out that no one ever talked to his client, the client’s parents, or others affected by the three alleged instances of abuse.
Burkey noted that Benedict was the identified suspect and other interviews were not pursued at that time.
A search warrant for the property where Benedict lived in both a house and a camper were executed.
During the search, Benedict agreed to go to the Galion Police Station to be interviewed by Burkey and Crawford County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Moser.
In a recorded interview, Benedict denied the allegations. When asked if he had touched the victims, Benedict expressed if he had-it would’ve been unintentional or accidental in nature.
Benedict told officers the victim often (played) in his camper- pretending it was their (play) house. Benedict denied showing his private parts to the victim however, he stated if they walked in on him, in the bathroom, they may have seen something.
When asked to submit to a polygraph, Benedict said he would but wanted to talk to a lawyer first.
After the interview, and back at the property, Benedict was asked to unlock a tablet they believed to be the same tablet he allegedly used to photograph the private parts of the victim. Benedict was unable to unlock the device after several attempts.
Several devices were confiscated and taken to the Seneca County Drug Task Force Unit. Investigators unlocked information using special software that extracts data. Child Pornography was found on the tablet. Two photos taken seconds apart were believed to be those of the victim.
Crawford County Children’s Services met with the victim at the Crawford County Sheriff’s office for the formal interview.
Burkey testified he watched the interview on closed-circuit television. During the interview, the victim identified Benedict as her assailant. She went into detail about the alleged events. (Out of respect for the victim and the victim’s family, Crawford County Now chooses to refrain from specific details.)
According to the victim, alleged assaults occurred on three different occasions.
If convicted, Benedict faces multiple years in prison including a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.