Bluffton man sentenced to 15 years in child sexual assault case
A Bluffton man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday after he was found guilty of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Benjamin Hernandez, 36 was found guilty of the charge after a jury deliberated for three and a half hours in Beaufort County Court, according to a 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office news release.
The 15-year sentence was handed down by Circuit Court Judge John Hayes.
The incident happened in the summer of 2015 at a Bluffton residence, the release said.
“This was a very difficult process for the victim and her family,” Assistant Solicitor Julie Keeney said. “They considered the defendant a family member, and he destroyed their trust.”
Hernandez must also register as a sex offender.
Caitlin Turner: 843-706-8184, @Cait_E_Turner
This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Bluffton man sentenced to 15 years in child sexual assault case."