According to Jefferson Police Sergeant Jeremy Behrens, an investigation started this past June when a witness notified officers of a possible domestic abuse incident at a residence in Jefferson. Behrens tells Raccoon Valley Radio the evidence provided enough information to charge 37-year-old Benjamin Ellingson with felonies for a controlled substance violation and failure to affix drug tax stamp, and misdemeanors for first degree harassment and first offense for domestic abuse assault-injury or mental illness.
Behrens says Ellingson had a no contact order between him and the victim. Within a few days, Ellingson went missing, along with 39-year-old Shanda Ellingson. A search warrant was issued to find their location. While officers continued to look for the Ellingsons, a victim reported to police that alleged that Benjamin sexually abuse them and Shanda was involved but took no action against Ben. Behrens says enough evidence was gathered to issue an arrest warrant.
The two were found outside of Greene County and arrested Thursday night. Both Benjamin and Shanda were each charged with felonies for sex abuse – continuous sexual abuse of a child and enticing a minor under 16 for sexual purpose.
Shanda was additionally charged with felonies for third degree sex abuse, child victim coerced by person in authority-first offense; willful injury-causing serious injury; and misdemeanros for violation of a no contact order, a controlled substance violation, domestic abuse assault display or use of a weapon-first offense, and first offense for possesson of a controlled substance violation.
Benjamin was also charged with felonies for third degree sex abuse-child victim member of the same household-second offense, lascivious acts with a child, and sexual exploitation of a minor, and misdemeanors for prostitution, violation of a no contact order, first offense for sex offender registry violation, a no contact order violation, possession of drug paraphernalia and first offense for domestic abuse assault.
Both suspects were booked into the Greene County Jail. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.
