Crime & Safety
Man convicted of attempted kidnapping in Elmira
Elmira, New York – Chemung County Jury convicted Ryan Benjamin for attempted kidnapping.
This comes after prosecutors say he attempted to abduct a 14-year-old girl on Elmira’s southside in 2020.
Benjamin left his car on Fulton Street and followed the girl for over 250 yards on Mt. Zoar Street, according to Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore. He threatened with a knife saying if she didn’t go with him he would stab her.
The victim went into the nearby Rite Aid before Benjamin left the area, walking back in the direction of where he parked the car.
On February 5, 2020, at around 10:00 am, investigators in Ithaca located a vehicle parked behind a business on Elmira Road in Ithaca.
According to Wetmore, Benjamin testified that he did not attempt to kidnap the girl and was trying to ask for directions.
Benjamin faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years.
He was indicted in February 2020 and the trial began with jury selection on Nov. 15, County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore prosecuted the case and Benjamin was represented by Public Defender Michael Arcesi.
He was remanded to the Chemung County Jail to await sentencing.
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