A Lancaster County jury found Lincoln resident Benjamin Stanley not guilty of two felony charges but could not reach a verdict on four others, prompting a judge to declare a mistrial in a case accusing him of sexually abusing three girls, who ranged in age from 7 to 11. The split outcome left four counts unresolved.
According to Columbus Telegram, jurors found Stanley not guilty on two counts, while deadlocking on the four remaining counts. Prosecutors had charged Stanley with three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child along with three other sex crimes, the outlet reports.
Jurors deliberated before reaching a split outcome: acquittals on two counts and deadlocks on the other four.
How the Allegations Surfaced
The case traces back to August 2025, when Lincoln police received a report from one of the girls' mothers. As reported by 1011now.com, officers were dispatched on Aug. 13, 2025, to a home near Northwest 54th Street and West Vale Street after a report of a belated sexual assault. The girl told her mother that Stanley had touched her inappropriately.
The girls spoke to officers about the allegations. They disclosed that Stanley had sexually abused each of them beginning in 2014, with the two younger girls also alleging abuse at his hands.
Search Turned Up DNA Evidence
Police searched Stanley's home as part of the investigation. Officers executed a search warrant on Aug. 18, 2025, finding lubricant, condom wrappers, and swabs containing DNA from both Stanley and the girls, according to 1011now.com. The swabs contained DNA from Stanley and the girls.
What Happens Next
Under Nebraska law, a mistrial caused by jury disagreement does not bar the state from retrying a defendant. Nebraska Revised Statute 29-2023, published by the Nebraska Legislature, specifies that such a mistrial is without prejudice to the state's right to pursue the case again. The statute leaves open the possibility of a retrial on the four deadlocked counts.
