Children's daycare church worker accused of sexual abuse released from jail

By Fernando Ramirez
Chron
August 22, 2018

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Texas-child-sexual-abuse-child-charges-Abilene-13174991.php

An Abilene man accused of sexually abusing multiple children at a church daycare may leave jail after a likely reduction in bail.

In April, convicted child killer Genene Jones confessed to murdering three babies while working as a nurse at a San Antonio hospital during the 1970s and 1980s. She is suspected of killing up to 60 children.

n April, a Border Patrol agent in Laredo was accused of killing his 27-year-old girlfriend and 1-year-old child. Police said the agent claimed he discovered the bodies near the U.S.-Mexico border.

In April, an ex-Houston police officer was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of hiring two men to kidnap and rape his ex-wife.

In April, police arrested a 25-year-old woman after a Facebook Live video showed her allegedly shooting a man in Houston. She told police the shooting was accidental. Police accused her of tampering/fabricating evidence and said she attempted to wipe off gunshot residue that was on her.

In March, a Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested after allegedly punching a 12-year-old girl in the face. The deputy allegedly inexplicably attacked the girl after she pet a dog that he had been petting while eating at a barbecue restaurant in Austin.

An Abilene church daycare worker accused of sexually abusing at least five different victims has been released from jail.

Five months after his arrest, 25-year-old Benjamin Roberts posted bail after his bond was reduced from $350,000 to $100,000, reports KTAB/KRBC.

Roberts was originally arrested by the Abilene Police Department in March after his residence was identified as a place where child pornography was being downloaded, according to court documents obtained by Abilene Reporter-News.

The arrest led to further investigation into Robert and his place of work, the Wylie Baptist Church Child Development Center.

Court documents reveal that Robert admitted to police he had sexual thoughts about the children he was supervising at the church.

Police said two victims told authorities that Roberts touched them inappropriately. Police also allegedly observed Roberts inappropriately touching and tickling children when they reviewed surveillance footage at the daycare.

At least five children, all under the age of 14, are believed to be victims of Roberts, court documents indicate.

Police are asking parents to speak to their children about any interactions with Roberts and report any cases of sexual abuse to the Abilene Police Department.