Bodine charged with statutory sodomy, other heinous crimes

Multiple victims name suspect to police
 
A Republic man is charged with four felony-level sex crimes stemming from his a l l e g e d s e x u a l abuse of the victim in the case, a girl under the age of 12. Benjamin B o d i n e , 46, is c h a r g e d with two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, enticement of a child and use of a child in a sexual performance.
According to the probable cause statement in the case, Victim #1 told the forensic investigator who spoke with her about three incidents in which Bodine allegedly sexually abused her. The first incident, the victim said, happened when she was six; at the time, the girl and her family were living with Bodine in a house in Springfield.
 She described to a police officer a sexual act.
The second incident alleged against Bodine, Victim #1 said, took place at a hotel in Springfield. The girl said the family had gone to the hotel to go swimming. The girl said she was about seven at the time.
An alleged third incident occurred at Bodine’s house.
The forensic investigator also spoke with Victim # 1’s sister, a 17-year-old girl. The sister said Bodine would “randomly show “favoritism” towards Victim #1, and would buy her “a lot of stuff to bribe her into secrecy.” The sister said Bodine also made inappropriate comments to her, and at one time asked her if she wanted to play a sexual game with him.
Former wife adds to allegations
According to the probable cause statement, an ex-wife of Bodine, identified as Victim #2, stated he married her when he was 34 and she was 19. She said that Bodine “forcefully … raped” her one night as a “punishment over relational issues.” She also said Bodine treated her like property and offered her sexually to a mutual male friend.
An ex-girlfriend of Bodine’s, identified as Victim #3, claimed that Bodine “made (her) a slave” shortly after dating. She also said he wanted her “to do things to make (herself) look younger.” The woman said she found child pornography on Bodine’s phone, and that “he was intentionally getting on websites” where he could look at child porn.
Bodine is currently only charged with the incidents relating to Victim #1.
Bodine was arrested by officers from the Republic Police Department and booked into the Greene County Jail on Monday, Feb. 1. As of press time, he continued to be held there without bond. He is next due to appear in court on Wednesday, Feb. 17, for a counsel status hearing.