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Ben Trane Guilty on all counts

Ben Trane Guilty on all counts

6 years, 3 months ago by Scott Hardy

South Lee County jury returns verdict Friday morning

The former owner of Midwest Academy in Keokuk will be sentenced by late February, after his conviction by a South Lee County jury on three counts Friday.

Benjamin Trane was found Guilty on counts of exploitation of a child by a counselor, child endangerment and misdemeanor assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. That third charge was reduced from a felony count of sexual abuse. The jury returned its' verdict after a total of just over two and a half hours of deliberations, split between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The Hawk Eye reports that closing arguments took over three hours Thursday afternoon, and came after Trane testified Thursday morning for 90 minutes. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, Trane admitted taking a student, who accused him of sexual assault, out on her birthday. That trip included a stop to the Victoria's Secret store in Quincy. Trane also admitted having pictures on his phone of girls sleeping in a room at the school. Earlier, Trane repeatedly denied sexually assaulting or allowing any physical abuse of students at the school.

Trane faces up to 9 years in prison at his sentencing.

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