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Man sentenced to sex crimes in two counties

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On Sept.12, Benjamin S. Blake went before Judge David Tunnell to be sentenced for a second time for crimes committed in 2018. Having been sentenced in Laclede County on Friday, Sept. 9, Blake completed his sentencing for Webster County on Monday.

Blake, who pleaded guilty on April 11, 2022, to two victims on two separate counts in Webster County. Count One of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15-1st offense and Count Six of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15-1st offense. The charge is a Class E Felony and carries a lifetime sex offender registry requirement. Blake pleaded guilty in Laclede County to the same charge.

According to a probable cause statement completed by Detective Joe Taylor on Dec. 13, 2019, Blake, who held the position of youth group leader, cultivated inappropriate relationships with minors within the church he served. Blake forced himself on a (minor) female with whom he had been “dating”. The probable cause statement indicates that despite being told multiple times to stop, Blake forced the minor into intercourse in addition to demanding oral sex. The victim stated Blake asked for oral sex daily. The statement also described Blake as being manipulative and demanded nude photos that he later used as blackmail.

In a second probable cause statement completed by Detective Joe Taylor on Dec. 23, 2019, Blake had been reported by a minor to another youth group leader that he had been sending graphic photos of himself to another (minor) youth group member. It was also reported that Blake told the minor he would “love her more” if she sent nude photos of herself to him.

Blake's sentencing from Webster County will run concurrent with his sentence from Laclede County. The sentence carries a four-year prison sentence, Blake was taken into custody to begin his time on Friday, September 10 after sentencing adjourned in Laclede County. Blake will go to prison for 120 days and complete a sex offender treatment program, if he passes the program he will be released on supervised probation by probation and parole. If he fails the program he will complete the full four-year sentence. 

“I don’t think a lot of people really understand how this works. If you or someone you love is going through something like this, and going to court and having to see their assaulter every day. Do something nice for them, they deserve it because it’s not easy,” shared Lindsay Capps on Monday after sentencing was completed. Capps played a critical role in helping bring Blake to justice by coming forward with her story and her personal experience with Blake. 

 

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