The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 19, 2007

Hermitage man, 19, pleads guilty to multiple drug and sex offenses

By Joe Pinchot

HERMITAGE — A Hermitage man charged in four cases with drug, weapon and sex offenses has pleaded guilty to charges in three of the cases.

Robert S. Benger, 19, of 305 Sunset Blvd., pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to these charges for the following incidents:

Possession of one Xanax pill. Benger was a passenger in a car stopped July 6 on Sample Road. Police saw white tablets and Benger said he had 11 Clonazepam, an anti-seizure medication, and one Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug. A charge of possession of a controlled substance for the Clonazepam was withdrawn.

Statutory sexual assault for having sex with a runaway 13-year-old girl July 10 at his home. Benger told police he thought the girl was 16, but a policeman said he had seen Benger with the girl several days before and told him she was 13.

Drunken driving–-first offense, possession of eight Xanax pills and driving under suspension. Police stopped Benger’s car Aug. 20 on North Buhl Farm Drive, knowing his license had been suspended. The policeman smelled alcohol and saw a Xanax tablet. A charge of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon for having a 100,000-volt stun gun was withdrawn.

As part of Benger’s plea agreement, prosecutors dropped charges of possession of Clonazepam and Flexeril, a muscle relaxant, and driving under suspension. On July 9, Benger walked up to a policeman in the 400 block of Orange Drive and said he had been in a fight. When the policeman asked if he had any illegal drugs on him, Benger showed him the pills, police said.

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