LOGAN — A 19-year-old North Logan man has pleaded guilty to raping a teenage girl repeatedly. Lucas Bennion accepted a plea deal and will now wait to be sentenced next month.
Bennion appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning for a final pretrial conference. He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a child and rape, both first-degree felonies. As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped the remaining 15 charges against him. His plea came a month before a two-day trial was to be held, September 21-22.
Bennion was arrested by North Park Police officers in May, after engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. He also persuaded her into texting him inappropriate photos of herself. The crimes occurred between November and April of 2016. He later confessed to having sex with her at least 30 times.
During Tuesday’s appearance, Bennion stood before the court wearing shackles and hand cuffs. He spoke several times briefly, telling Judge Brian Cannell he understood the conditions of the plea agreement. He also said he knew each charge he was pleading guilty to carried a sentence of five-years-to-life in prison.
Judge Cannell ordered Bennion to undergo a pre-sentence report by Adult Probation and Parole, about his criminal history. He scheduled sentencing for September 26.
Bennion remains in the Cache County Jail on $200,000 bail.
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