A Southport man accused of befriending a young teen, providing her with alcohol and ultimately sexually abusing her was found guilty Tuesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Benjamin Patrick Walsh, 54, was found guilty of Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson set sentencing for Sept. 24.
Evidence and witnesses called by Prosecutor Dustin Miller proved Walsh was about 51 and the victim was about 16 the first time he attacked her in his home in 2021. The victim testified the defendant treated her special until one night when he sexually battered her.
“I was scared, I told him to stop, I didn’t expect that to happen,” she said.
Miller praised the victim for her courage in testifying.
“It was an honor to seek justice on behalf of the victim in this case,” he said. “I must commend her, because it took tremendous bravery to tell her story.”
Miller said the evidence showed the defendant “groomed” the victim over time, a tactic seen in many child sexual abuse cases.
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“Our community will not tolerate the grooming of our youth nor preying on their innocence for sexual gratification,” Miller said.
The jury took about an hour to reach its verdict.
The case began in 2022 with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office receiving a report that the victim had been sexually abused. Several agencies collaborated to gather evidence that led to the charges and conviction.
“I would like to thank the jury for rendering a just verdict, along with the BCSO and especially case agent Patrick Crawford for all his hard work,” Miller said. “The work done by victim advocate Maria Wilson at the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, and her professionalism, was invaluable.”
“No prosecution would be successful without the work that goes on behind the scenes.”
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.