BUCYRUS — An alleged rape in 2015 has resulted in a 130-count indictment that could put a rural Galion man in prison for the rest of his life.
Joshua Benedict, 40, was indicted by a Crawford County grand jury in January on:
— two first-degree felony counts of rape against a victim under age 13;
— two second-degree felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor;
— one third-degree count of gross sexual imposition;
— 125 fourth-degree felony counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.
Both of the alleged rapes took place on the same day with the same victim and each count could result in a life sentence without parole, according to Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall.
Bond is set at $2 million for Benedict, who has been in the Crawford County Jail since Oct. 20 on a related charge. Crall said a trial is scheduled for July.
The investigation into Benedict began in the summer of 2018, according to Crall, who said it was triggered by an alleged rape that occurred in 2015. The prosecutor said the alleged crime was not reported until last year.
As part of the investigation, authorities executed a search warrant and found a large amount of child pornography on Benedict’s electronic devices, including photos he had allegedly taken of his victim, according to Crall.
Other Crawford County grand jury indictments from January, according to Crall, were (felonies unless otherwise indicated):
— Ryan Campbell, theft
— Austin Law, receiving stolen property
— Christopher Barber, felonious assault, aggravated robbery
— Richard Nakoff, receiving stolen property. possession of drugs (2 counts), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Dustin Blankenship, possession of drugs
— Colton Parsons, possession of drugs, drug abuse instruments, corrupting with drugs
— Tylor Miller, domestic violence
— Micheala Mundy, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, possession of drugs (misdemeanor), possession of drugs (misdemeanor), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Brendan Frenzel, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, possession of drugs (misdemeanor), possession of drugs (misdemeanor)
— Amanda Johnson, possession of drugs
— Alexandria Howard, possession of drugs, marijuana drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Lisa Ann Grochowalski, possession (3 counts), possession (misdemeanor), drug instruments (misdemeanor), paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Brittany Harris, possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Serep Tamang, unlawful sexual conduct with minor
— Chase Parsons, possession of drugs
— Richard Lane, burglary, theft
— Brian Hefner, tampering with evidence, possession of drugs
— Sherman Baldridge, possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Aaron Skaggs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, carrying concealed weapon (misdemeanor), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Chad Neubacher, possession of drugs, possessing drug abuse instruments (misdemeanor)
— Amanda Johnson, receiving stolen property, misuse of credit cards (misdemeanor)
— Richard Awbrey, failure to comply, possession of drugs, possession of drugs (2 counts), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor), possession of marijuana (misdemeanor)
— Darrien Cassell, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, endangering children (misdemeanor), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— Trevor O’Leary, possession of drugs
— Tracy Tuttle, aggravated arson
— Jason Wade, possession of drugs, possession of drugs (misdemeanor), drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
— James Gamble, harassment by bodily fluid, assault (misdemeanor)
— Shawn Arthur, theft (2 counts), theft (misdemeanor, 2 counts), criminal trespass
— Willie Brewer, aggravated arson
— Jerri Dix-Mahoney, theft (2 counts), theft (misdemeanor, 2 counts), criminal trespass
— Randy Justice, aggravated arson
— David Peters, aggravated arson
— Ronnie Olmstead, possession of drugs, possession of drugs, assault (misdemeanor)
— Matthew Sharp, possession of drugs (2 counts)
— Noah Harriger, possession of drugs
— Michael Hernandez, possession of drugs
— Cynthia Cyrus-Gibbons, theft, forgery, misuse of credit cards (misdemeanor)
— Rodney Martin Jr., improperly handling firearms
— Shea Fisher, possession of drugs, possession of drugs (misdemeanor), paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
