An application for a first, bail review hearing was approved last month for 39-year-old Benjamin Strachan, who was arrested on child sexual abuse charges. Bail and arraignment hearings were held the morning of Friday, October 29th.
On the same day as the bail hearing, the office of special prosecution requested that the judge move directly to arraignment, at which time Strahan pled not guilty to all charges. According to court documents, Strahan is ordered to be under pretrial enforcement supervision by a PED officer and under electronic and GPS monitoring. Strahan is to also remain at least 500 feet away from the alleged victims’ residence and school.
Strahan, through his lawyer, requested to be placed under a third-party custodian with bail set at $20,000; bail was ordered to be $25,000 by the court.
Court documents indicate that the third-party custodians are his in-laws; they are to be within sight and sound of the accused 24 hours a day.
Strahan was ordered to obey all court orders and all federal, state, and local laws. He is to appear in court when ordered and to maintain contact with his attorney.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled at the Kenai Courthouse on December 20th and a trial call is set for February 2nd.