BLAIR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

423 ALLEGHENY STREET, SUITE 421

HOLLIDAYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 16648
Phone: 814-693-3010
Fax: 814-695-8210

Peter J. Weeks Nichole M. Smith

District Attorney First Assistant District Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALTOONA MAN CHARGED WITH OVER 700

COUNTS OF MANUFACTURING CHILD
PORNOGRAPHY AND RAPE OF A CHILD

On July 19, 2023, Altoona Police Department filed over 700 total counts
including Sexual Abuse of Children; Rape of a Child; Involuntary Deviate Sexual
Assault; Aggravated Indecent Assault; and other charges against Altoona resident
Benjamin Dent. Today’s charges developed after detectives combed through
Dent’s cell phone which had been seized during a prior arrest on July 3, 2023. At
that time, during a 4th of July party, a 13 year old child disclosed walking in on
Dent in a room alone with a 7 year old child with his penis exposed. The 7 year
old child later disclosed to adults that the Dent had previously video recorded her
with her shirt off.

A search of Dent’s phone revealed 14 videos of what’s alleged to be Dent

vaginally and orally raping the 7 year old child. Also found were photos and
videos of 4 other prepubescent children ranging from approximately 6 years to 13
years old in various states of undress while they showered and used the bathroom.
Detectives further located approximately 295 photos of nude prepubescent
children that did not appear to be produced by Dent.

Dent was charged today with 9 counts of Rape of a Child and 1 count of
Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse on a Child, each of which carries a
statutory maximum penalty of 20 to 40 years. Among numerous other offenses, he
was further charged with both 57 counts Sexual Abuse of Children for
manufacturing child pornography as well as 624 counts of Sexual Abuse of
Children for possession of child pornography. His bail was set this afternoon at
$750,000 straight bail.

First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith says, “The Blair County
District Attorney’s Office is committed to fighting for the protection of children in
this community and holding accountable those who violate our children in the
most unimaginable ways. We are grateful to the dedication and partnership of the
Altoona Police Department which—from patrol officers to detectives—worked
tirelessly and thoroughly to search through the extensive contents of the phone,
identify the victims, and bring forth the charges filed today.”

*All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty*