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	Union County Grand Jury Indicts Plainfield Pastor on 12 Counts of Sexual Abuse, Involving Children By Mark Spivey Home News Tribune January 21, 2009 http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090121/NEWS/90120068 ELIZABETH —A Union County grand jury has returned a 12-count indictment against city pastor George C. Benbow, charging him with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow announced Tuesday, Jan. 20. Benbow, 56, is charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree attempted sexual assault and six counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, stemming from incidents involving six victims taking place during a span of nine years, authorities said. Benbow, the founding pastor of Plainfield's Christian Fellowship Gospel Church, is free on bail after posting $150,000 bond shortly after his September 2008 arrest. Prosecutors have said they launched an investigation of Benbow last summer after several city residents contacted police with allegations of abuse by the pastor. The probe revealed that the alleged abuse took place from 2000 to 2008 at "multiple locations on the church grounds," according to authorities. The incidents were said to have involved "inappropriate touching" of the clothed girls, who were either eight or nine years old at the time of the alleged abuse. Earlier this month, Benbow rejected a plea deal from prosecutors that would have yielded a three-year state prison term with possibility of parole after nine months. State Superior Court Judge John Triarsi warned Benbow before he declined the offer that he could face up to 28 years in jail if convicted of all charges. Triarsi, sitting in Elizabeth, added that any convictions would have to be served consecutively. Benbow declined comment at that time through his attorney, Philip Nettl, who said he anticipated a grand jury indictment and that he and his client were preparing for trial. Romankow commended the courage of the young victims in coming forward, their families, prosecutor's office Detective Paul Han, assistant prosecutor John Esmerado of the Union County Child Advocacy Center and Plainfield Police Detective Inesha Nash Brown for their roles in the investigation. The investigation remains active and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Han at 908-965-3881.
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