Just weeks after Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji assured Saugerties officials his office would not allow child sex abuse cases to be “shuffled under the rug or papered over,” a registered sex offender has been arrested and released from custody without explanation.
James M. Benson, 42, of Saugerties, was accused of forcible sexual contact with a 17-year-old. He was charged with felony first-degree sexual abuse, criminal possession of a weapon, and two misdemeanors: providing alcohol to a minor and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Benson, who was implicated in a 2013 case against former Ulster Town police chief Matthew Taggard, admitted then to having sex with an underage victim. He cooperated with authorities and was sentenced to 10 years’ probation. He is currently registered as a level 3 sex offender.
According to jail officials who spoke with the Daily Freeman, Benson was remanded to Ulster County Jail on July 30, but was “released by order of the court” without bail on Sept. 16. His case was heard by Acting County Supreme Court Justice Bryan Rounds, who did not return calls and emails seeking comment.
On Sept. 3, Nneji told the Saugerties Town Board that accountability in sex abuse cases was paramount because “the children matter too much.” Efforts to reach him for comment on Benson’s arrest and release were unsuccessful.
At that meeting, Saugerties Supervisor Fred Costello thanked Nneji for his pledge. But after Benson’s release—and the lack of explanation—Costello said he is left questioning that commitment.
“It begs questions,” Costello said in an interview. “Hopefully, we are going to get more information.”
“I don’t want my emotions to inform this decision,” he added. “But there will likely be people who don’t have as much patience as I do who are going to want answers about this.”
This is a developing story.
Jim Rich is a reporter for The Overlook. You can reach him at jim@theoverlooknews.com.