Conviction of Keokuk private school owner upheld

5 years, 1 month ago by Scott Hardy

Ruling Friday upholds 2017 conviction of Benjamin Trane

A South Lee County District Court judge has upheld the 2017 conviction of a Keokuk private school owner.

That ruling against former Midwest Academy director Benjamin Trane was issued Friday by Judge Mark Kruse. He determined that Trane's defense did not prove that the girl he was accused of abusing made false allegations of abuse against her foster and her adoptive parents. Kruse had earlier refused to let the defense introduce the allegations as evidence. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in October 2019 to conditionally uphold Trane’s convictions, but said another hearing was needed to determine whether Trane got a fair trial in December 2017. Trane was convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a child by a counselor and child endangerment. He was sentenced in May 2018 to nine years in prison, but has been free on bond while he appealed.

The ruling ends a three-year appeal process by Trane to overturn the conviction. He'll now have to report to the Iowa Department of Corrections within 30 days.