ST. MARYS — A 31-year-old St. Marys man says alcohol consumption led to a graphic sexual encounter between him and an 11-year-old girl sometime last year.
James A. Bennett of 422 W. Mill St. was charged this week with counts of felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and related offenses stemming from his alleged contact with the minor between August and October of 2014.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case and the alleged victim, Bennett engaged in intercourse with and groped her at a St. Marys home on more than one occasion last year.
In an April interview with Bennett, St. Marys City Police said he initially denied any involvement but later acknowledged having had inappropriate contact with the child, saying his actions were “likely the result of being overly intoxicated.”
Bennett is charged with counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, both first-degree felonies; aggravated indecent assault of a child, first and second-degree felonies; and indecent assault, a third-degree felony and second-degree misdemeanor.
He remains jailed on $30,000 cash bail pending a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in St. Marys District Court. Online court records did not list a defense attorney for Bennett as of Wednesday.
