VB jury convicts former business owner of sexual abuse of 19-year-old former employee

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A jury of 11 men and one woman on Thursday found a former businessman guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old former employee.

Benjamin Young, 44, was found guilty of forced sodomy and forced penetration with objects. The case revolved around consent and whether Young had used force or intimidation. The jury found Young guilty after two days of evidence.

The original trial against Young ended in October 2023 with a mistrialbecause the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.

The incident occurred in August 2022 at Hybrid Air, Young’s former HVAC company on Voyager Court. Young’s company was in financial trouble, so Young fired the victim a few days into her time at Hybrid Air, a press release states. She was picking up her paycheck when Young took her to his office for 23 minutes.

She testified that he sexually abused her after they discussed bodybuilding and massages.

Defense attorney Kristin Paulding stressed that Young had no reason to want to hurt her and that she did not say no during the alleged attack.

An expert witness for the prosecution said the 19-year-old was in a state described as “shock.” She was aware of what was happening but was unable to do anything about it.

A press release from the VB District Attorney’s Office said she tried to leave, but the door was locked with a key code and Young stood between her and the door, telling her, “We should keep this between us,” before opening the lobby door and following her to her car.

Paulding said that despite the 23-year age difference, mutual attraction was possible.

Young knew the woman from the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club. He had been a member there several years ago and she used to play golf on the course.

But Assistant District Attorney Kate Aicher pointed out that Young’s DNA was found in the woman’s body and that she had no motive to lie in court about the sexual assault and the obscuration of her private life.

After the verdict, Young’s family members said they were shocked.

“He was expecting to go home today,” a relative said.

Early Thursday afternoon, the jury sent a message to District Judge Afshin Farashari that they could not reach a consensus, but Farashari told them to continue deliberating. Young’s first trial on the same charge ended in October without a jury agreement.

The two sexual assault charges normally carry a prison sentence of five years to life, but because Young has no prior convictions, he faces eight to 17 years in prison when he is sentenced in September, according to sentencing guidelines.

Farashari revoked his bail and was taken to jail. Young was free before his sentencing and was fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet.