A Frederick man, convicted in January of sexually abusing a young boy, was sentenced to life-plus-215 years in prison by a Howard County Circuit Court judge Friday.
Dean Lee Benner, 48, of the 5700 block of Brook Hill Lane, was sentenced for abusing the boy at multiple Howard County locations between 1997 and 2002. On January 28, a jury convicted Benner of 21 counts of child abuse and sex-offense charges.
Benner's sentence consists of four concurrent life sentences on four counts of first-degree sex offense; a 15-year consecutive sentence for custodial child abuse; 20-year consecutive sentences on 10 counts of second-degree sex offense; and 10-year concurrent sentences on six counts of third-degree sex offenses, according to State's Attorney spokesman Wayne Kirwan.
Judge William V. Tucker characterized Benner as "clearly a predator" and that his sentence was designed not only to protect the victim, but also to "protect all children out there."
Tucker ordered Benner to register as a sex offender for life.
Senior Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Ritter has called Benner's case "one of the most horrifying crimes to ever happen in Howard County."
During the trial, Ritter told the jury that Benner had created "a boy's paradise" for the victim, his brothers and their friends. Benner treated the boys at Rounding Third, an Elkridge family entertainment center, took them to a friend's farm for horseback riding, or to his place of business — Quality Lab Products where they were allowed to operate fork lift machinery.
The victim, now 25, testified that Benner plied him and others with alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana. The victim told the jury that the first time he was assaulted was at age 9, and Benner had used alcohol to get him to pass out.
The victim also testified that Benner had threatened to kill him or his family if he told anyone about the abuse. He stated that Benner had a large collection of weapons and that during certain assaults, he would threaten the youth with a gun or a knife placed at his head.
Prosecutors said the "strongly believe" that Benner has committed similar acts against other children.
Anyone who may have been a victim, or has information about Benner is asked to come forward and contact Howard County's Child Advocacy Center, "The Listening Place," at 410-313-2630.