A PAOLA MAN WAS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRIMES STEMMING FROM A JULY 2019 ARREST BY THE LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT. 28-YEAR-OLD BENJAMIN ALLEN, FROM PAOLA, WAS ARRESTED JULY 30, 2019, AFTER BEING SEEN WITH A MINOR FEMALE AT A PARK IN LANSING. ALLEN WAS SENTENCED FRIDAY TO 64 MONTHS FOR THE CRIME OF INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH A CHILD AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY.
FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALLEN AND THE MINOR DID NOT KNOW ONE ANOTHER BUT HAD MET ON SOCIAL MEDIA PRIOR TO THE CRIME. VICTIMS APPROVED THE CONVICTION AND SENTENCING, WHICH ALLOWED THE CHILD TO AVOID HAVING TO TESTIFY.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY ATTORNEY TODD THOMPSON SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL FOR THE RESOLUTION AND ADDS THAT ALL VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, INCLUDING CHILDREN, ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THEIR ACCUSERS. HE SAYS THERE IS IRREPARABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA THAT HAPPENS TO ALL VICTIMS IN SUCH CRIMES AND THEY DO THEIR BEST TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE VICTIM AND THEIR FAMILY, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED.
