Neighbors of an Abilene church worker arrested for child sex crimes said he and his roommates ran a “Kid’s Club” out of his home for years.
On Wednesday, Benjamin Roberts was arrested for Possession of Child Pornography and Indecency with a Child – Sexual Contact.
Court documents revealed that Abilene Police began investigating after several child porn videos were traced to an IP address associated with the home.
Eventually, investigators were able to connect the IP address to Roberts. Police also seized several electronic devices and a pair of children’s underwear from his home. Police said he confessed to possessing the child porn and also “admitted to touching one child under 12 inappropriately in 2017.”
Over the past 5 years, Roberts has worked in daycares and youth ministries at several Abilene churches, including Wylie Baptist Church, Southern Hills Church of Christ, and Beltway Park South.
Anastasia, age 12, told KTAB and KRBC in Abilene she attended the “Kid’s Club” in the 400 block of Cockerell Street. She participated in the Kids Club since age 5.
Anastasia said she and her friends would visit the home at least once a week, where two to five adults, including Roberts, would play board games with them, help them with homework, read to them, and take them to the park and church.
Other children who spoke with KTAB and KRBC said they never experienced issues at the “Kid’s Club.” For them, it was a good place for kids in the neighborhood to get together.
Police believe that due to the high volume of children he had contact with, there is an “extremely high likelihood” Roberts sexually assaulted more victims.
Parents are urged to talk with their children and if any crime is suspected, to make a report with the Abilene Police Department at (325) 673-8331.
(Information from BigCountryHomepage.com)
