A Fremont County trial jury has convicted a Riverton man for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.
Benjamin David Wilson, 44, went to trial Jan. 23 to contest sexual abuse charges ranging from first to second degree following allegations that he had touched two female minors inappropriately.
Wilson originally was accused of approaching a 12-year-old girl on two occasions and trying to penetrate her vagina with his finger, according to the girl’s interview as recounted in court documents.
The girl said she ignored Wilson and he walked out.
An older girl said Wilson had touched her inappropriately as well, starting when she was 12 in 2019. He started by rubbing her back, according to court documents, and continued to get “lower and lower” until his hand was touching her genital area inside her pants.
When interviewed by police, Wilson reportedly claimed he was touching the girl’s genital area to help her clean up menstrual blood.
Of these allegations, the jury convicted Wilson on Jan. 25 only for the charge relating to the incident with the older girl, and acquitted him on the charges pertaining to the younger girl who’d said he approached her twice to penetrate her with his finger.
All of the charges dated back to 2021 or earlier and were based on child forensic interviews and victim testimony.
Wilson’s sentencing will occur at a later date. He faces up to 15 years in prison and will be categorized as both a convicted felon and registered sex offender.
Wilson, who had been free on bond throughout his prosecution, was taken into custody after his conviction.
