Herbert Ben Jr., Child Abuse, Dulce NM, 2023

⏱ 3 min read

Herbert Ben Jr., 57, of Dulce, New Mexico, is headed for a lifetime in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of a sickening pattern of abuse spanning over a decade. The crimes, revealed during a three-day trial in Albuquerque, targeted young girls – some as young as elementary school – and a teenage babysitter between 2010 and 2022. Ben Jr. preyed on vulnerable kids, leaving lasting scars.

Prosecutors detailed how Ben Jr. abused two girls under the age of 12 over a six-year period. The evidence didn’t stop there. Witnesses testified about his molestation of a teenage babysitter around 2019, and another young relative during her elementary and middle school years between 2010 and 2012. The case painted a picture of a calculated predator exploiting trust within his own community.

The jury convicted Ben Jr. on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse, each carrying a mandatory minimum of 30 years. Judge will also order Ben Jr. to pay full restitution to his victims, covering medical costs – physical, psychiatric, and psychological – stemming from his horrific acts. It’s a small measure of justice, but the scars will remain.

Federal authorities say Ben Jr., a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. He’ll also face a period of supervised release, potentially for life. The FBI’s Farmington Resident Agency, with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department, spearheaded the investigation that finally brought Ben Jr. to justice.

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