A 32-year-old Fenton woman has been charged with 10 felony counts of either statutory rape or statutory sodomy for allegedly having sex with a male teenager, court records show.
It appears the woman, Randi R. Benedick, had worked as a mental health therapist for Comtrea, an agency that provides mental health and medical services throughout Jefferson County.
Numerous documents Comtrea has posted online list a “Randi Benedick” as a mental health therapist, case manager or care coordinator.
Capt. Robert Ruckman of the Arnold Police Department, which arrested Benedick for the alleged offenses, said he believes Benedick had worked for Comtrea and that the alleged victim had been a volunteer.
Benedick allegedly had sex with the victim at least 40 times between Nov. 25, 2014, and May 14, 2015, all while the victim was 16 years old, according to the probable-cause statement in the case. She also allegedly had sex with the victim after he turned 17, the report said.
Some documents about Comtrea’s equine therapy program, which is housed at the Bridle Ridge Acres facility in Hillsboro, list Randi Benedick as part of that team.
And, the probable-cause statement alleges that Benedick had sex with the victim 27 times at Bridle Ridge Acres.
Comtrea attorney Steve Strum of the Sandberg Phoenix and von Gontard law firm in St. Louis would not say whether Benedick has worked for the agency, but he said Comtrea knows about the case and is investigating it.
“We’re aware of the situation, and we’re conducting our own investigation,” he said. “When it (the case) came to light, it was reported as required to the state investigating agency, and they have conducted their own investigation.”
Strum said Monday that Comtrea had not been named in any lawsuit connected to the case.
He would not say whether the victim was a Comtrea client.
Ruckman said Arnold Police arrested Benedick after getting a call from the state Children’s Division about the alleged abuse.
In addition to the Bridle Ridge facility, the alleged incidents took place at Arnold City Park, the Strawberry Creek Nature Area in Arnold, the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in Hillsboro, the Super 8 motel in Pevely and at a home in the 600 block of Harris Road in Arnold, where Benedick lived at the time, the report said.
Benedick allegedly told the victim not to tell anyone about the incidents because “it could cost her her job or her children,” according to the report.
When Arnold Police arrested Benedick, “she was unwilling to make any statements” to the police, the probable-cause statement said.
Benedick could not be reached for comment.
Her attorney, N. Scott Rosenblum of the Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers & Glass law firm in St. Louis, said Benedick plans to enter a plea of not guilty.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge would not comment about the case.
Benedick has been charged with five counts of second-degree statutory rape and five counts of second-degree sodomy, all class C felonies. If convicted, Benedick faces up to seven years for each charge.
A $40,000 bond was set in the case, and Benedick posted the bond and was released on Feb. 18, court records show.
In addition to setting the $40,000 bond, Jefferson County Div. 14 Associate Circuit Judge Timothy S. Miller ordered that Benedick must be monitored with a GPS system and may not contact the alleged victim in any way. She also may not go within one mile of the victim’s home. In addition, she may not have contact with anyone younger than 18 other than her own two minor children, court papers indicate.
A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 12 in Miller’s courtroom.