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Benson School teacher Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

Former Benson school teacher Roger Ebnet has been sentenced to more than 9 years in prison. Swift County Judge Melissa Listug on Thursday sentenced Ebnet, age 62 of Morris, to 109 months in prison and 99 years probation for sexually molesting children in his Northside Elementary Classroom from 2014 through 2022. Ebnet’s attorney had earlier asked that Ebnet be placed on probation, but prosecutors asked for a harsher-than-normal sentence because of the vulnerability and age of the victims. Prior to sentencing, Judge Listug received victim impact statements from 12 victims.

Ebnet was arrested after a hidden camera captured images of him molesting boys as they sat in his lap during class November 30th and December 1st, 2022. After his arrest, other victims came forth and reported they too had been abused by Ebnet who had taught at Northside Elementary since 1987. He pleaded guilty to 4 counts of 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct last October.