MARSHALL COUNTY, Iowa — Marshall County announced Thursday that a jury has found a Melbourne man guilty of sexual abuse and enticing a minor.

According to court documents, the incident occurred in December 2022 and involved the sexual abuse of a person under the age of 14.

27-year-old Josiah Benbow has been found guilty of sexual abuse in the second degree and enticing a minor.

The Marshall County Attorney released this statement following the verdict

I am extremely proud and thankful for the hard work, perseverance, and professionalism of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, our team at the Marshall County Attorney’s Office, and Assistant Marshall County Attorney Autumn Canny in trying the case. The crime victim support services provided by ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support) have also been an essential part of this prosecution, and I am grateful for their crime victim advocacy and support.

Jordan Gaffney, Marshall County Attorney

The investigation was handled by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marshall County Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 21. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years; and enticing a minor is a Class C felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $13,660 fine.