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Paoli Man Charged With Child Molesting

Last updated on Wednesday, March 2, 2016

(PAOLI) - A Paoli man who was arrested last week on felony counts of child molesting was released Wednesday after posting a $10,000 cash bond.

Police arrested 40-year-old Benjamen Chastain after incidents that occurred nearly 15 years ago.

Chastain, who is being represented by attorney James Fifer, entered a plea of not guilty.

Orange County Circuit Court Judge Larry Blanton has set a July 19th trial date.

On December 13, Mesarosh also met with the first victim to report the allegations against Chastain.

According to court documents, the first victim, who is now an adult, claims the first incident happened when she was 11 years old.

The woman told police that she was at Chastain's home in Millersburg for Thanksgiving when he took her to his room and had sex with her. She also reported that this happened more than once and at more than one location.

The first victim told police that one incident happened at her home. The woman says that she attempted to yell for help and Chastain slapped her in the face and covered her mouth.

The victim first told her mother about the molestation on December 9, 2015.

Police then learned about two other victims.

A second woman came to the police station on December 13, 2015 to report that she had been molested by Chastain.

The second victim, now 25, was 10 when she spent the night with Chastain and his wife. She told police that Chastain's wife was pregnant and sick, so she left the room and that is when Chastain allegedly molested her.

The second victim told police she didn't report the crime because she had been molested before by another man and when she told no one believed her.

On December 15, a third woman reported that she was molested by Chastain. The woman now 19, was 5 or 6 when the incident happened. She told police she was Chastain's home playing with his children outside when Chastain called her inside the home and took her to a bedroom and locked the door. The woman told police Chastain made her take her clothes off and have sex with him.

The woman told her mother about the incident when she was 17. But her mother didn't Chastain would do something like that because he had been going to church and getting closer to God.

The woman told police she had to "act like it never happened due to him still being in the family and also stated she's still struggling with the incident and had a panic attack prior to speaking with police."

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