Man convicted of molesting boy in 1970s

Abuse occurred at funeral home, fire station

By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

Published 02/08/09

It was March 2008 when the 44-year-old man called police, but the crime he was reporting happened 31 years ago.

He was only 13 years old in 1977 when an older teen befriended him, gained the trust of his parents, and began a predatory sexual relationship with him, he said. Over the next three years, Benjamin M. Matthews molested him more than 100 times in a south county funeral home and fire station - forever scarring him and at least two other boys who also came forward to police.

"The level of control that you then had and unfortunately still have over me is suffocating," the victim told Matthews on Jan. 29 in...

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Edgewater Child Molester - 2009-02-09 09:36:10

This case is a prime example of why our children are not safe anywhere. This man should have went to jail for the rest of his life. He is still watching young boys in the Edgewater/Mayo area and it is only a matter of time before he finds his next victim. Parents be on the alert at all times to protect our children.

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Jennifer Y. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

Edgewater Child Molester - 2009-02-09 09:35:04

This case is a prime example of why are children are not safe anywhere. This man should have went to jail for the rest of his life. He is still watching young boys in the Edgewater/Mayo area and it is only a matter of time before he finds his next victim. Parents be on the alert at all times to protect our children.

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Jennifer Y. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

Child Molester - 2009-02-08 13:51:43

Once again a I see that a child molester gets a " Slap on the Wrist ". I actually thought that after so many serious cases that these perverts would receive stiff sentences and not ever be released until the Board of Psychiatry certified them no danger to the community, and if deemed not fit civily commit them until found no threat. So I am WRONG AGAIN about our justice system.

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ramarro smith - windsor mill, MD - Karma: Neutral