November 29, 2001
Trenton,
NJ — A Hopewell Township man and his wife were indicted yesterday on child
endangerment charges, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.
Michael
Benthin (DOB 12/26/44), of the first block of Poor Farm Road, was indicted on
seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of criminal
sexual contact and two counts of promotion of obscene material. If convicted, he could be sentenced to more than 50 years in
prison.
Hopewell
Township police arrested Benthin in June 2000 and charged him with molesting two
14-year-old township girls inside his home after allegedly showing them child
and adult pornography. Authorities
seized four computers, approximately 1500 videos, 8mm tapes and computer disks
from Benthin’s home.
Benthin’s
wife, Susan Trenka-Benthin, was also indicted on two counts of endangering the
welfare of a child.
Assistant
Prosecutor Robin Scheiner presented the case to the grand jury.
The New Jersey State Police’s High Technology and Crimes Unit and the
New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services assisted in the investigation.
Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.