FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2024) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today that action by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit resulted in the jury conviction of Benny Ward, 63 from Boone County, on multiple counts of abuse and exploitation of a minor.
According to court documents, Ward began grooming a 10-year-old victim as early as 2008. The inappropriate conduct advanced to include child sexual abuse material on his computer and ultimately to hands-on sexual abuse while the victim was a minor.
Ward was found guilty by a jury on multiple charges, including Use of a Minor in a Sexual Performance (Class B Felony), three counts of Sexual Abuse First Degree (Class D Felony), two counts of Rape Third Degree (Class D Felony), three counts of Sodomy Third Degree (Class D Felony), and Possession of Matter Portraying a Minor in a Sexual Performance (Class D Felony). He was sentenced to 63 years in prison.
“Cases of exploitation and abuse of a minor are among the most difficult to prosecute, but also some of the most important. Our Office sought justice to protect this victim and to show the serious consequences of preying on Kentucky children,” said Attorney General Coleman. “We were able to secure this conviction through the courage of the victim and other witnesses who came forward. Their example has helped make Kentucky safer for the future.”
Before the Attorney General’s office took the case, Ward was first tried and convicted of these crimes in 2017, but his case was reversed by the Kentucky Supreme Court. The Attorney General’s Office took on the retrial to seek justice for this victim.
Boone County Sheriff’s Office Detective Melody Parker (ret.) was the lead investigator and Detective Tony Vonderhaar investigated the electronic portion. Assistant Attorney General Todd Willard and Special Counsel Denise Durbin prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Erica Paske from the Attorney General’s Office of Victims Advocacy provided services to the victim.