Man who sexually abused minors sentenced to 15 years in prison – Larry Basford

A Southport man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty earlier this month of befriending a young teenager, giving her alcohol and sexually assaulting her, prosecutor Larry Basford announced.

Benjamin Patrick Walsh, 54, was convicted Sept. 10 of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. At sentencing, Judge Dustin Stephenson ordered the defendant to serve 15 years in prison. Judge Stephenson also described the defendant as a sex offender.

Evidence and witnesses subpoenaed by prosecutor Dustin Miller proved that Walsh was about 51 years old and the victim was about 16 years old when he first attacked her at his home in 2021. The victim testified that the defendant treated her specifically until one night when he sexually abused her.

Miller said the evidence showed the defendant “groomed” the victim over time, a tactic seen in many child sexual abuse cases.

“Our community will not tolerate us sexually harassing our youth or exploiting their innocence for sexual gratification,” Miller said.

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The case began in 2022 when the Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the victim had been sexually assaulted. Multiple agencies worked together to gather evidence that led to the indictment and conviction.

Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and said successful prosecutions like this would not be possible without their work.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at [email protected] or call 850-381-7454.