American man sentenced to 17 years for carnal abuse of 12-y-o girl
ST JAMES, Jamaica – The Caucasian American who was convicted in the St James Circuit Court for having intercourse with a 12-year-old girl after she was handed over to him by her father for transactional sex was on Friday sentenced to 17 years and 3 months for his crime.
Robert Benoit, 59, who was unanimously declared guilty by a jury comprising five men and two women following their deliberations in March this year, had at the time declared that “corruption” and racism had a part in his verdict.
According to the evidence unveiled in the matter, the incident took place in December 2020, two days before Christmas.
According to Benoit, who is a regular visitor to the island, he was in the community to give care packages to people there.
The girl’s mother said in her evidence that she was responsible for taking care of Benoit’s rented home in the area and so would go there to cook and clean for him. She, however, denied knowing what transpired between him and her child.
The young girl said that night while she was at his house, she was awakened from sleep by Benoit who was atop her. She said the man had intercourse with her.
The following morning police, acting on information, showed up at the residence in search of Benoit.
When he finally emerged from the dwelling, the young girl told the police that he had been inside “trying to hide” her.
He was subsequently arrested and charged for sex with a person under 16
