Inmates testify to guard’s sexual visits to their cells

Kim Smith

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:17 a.m.

A former Clark County Detention Center inmate told jurors Thursday that a corrections officer visited her cell a dozen times in one evening, forcing her to touch him once and strip.

The woman, who is now serving four to 20 years in prison in connection with a fatal car accident, took the stand during the fourth day of Mark Bennish's trial.

The former corrections officer is charged with using his position of authority to coerce two female inmates into sexually compromising situations. Bennish, 39, faces three counts of voluntary sexual conduct with a prisoner, which carries a one- to four-year sentence.

The 26-year-old woman who testified Thursday said she was awaiting trial at the time of the incidents. Because she was worried about her case, she took the advice of several people who recommended she ask Bennish about court proceedings.

Bennish's jail cell visits came later that night. The woman told jurors he would often send her cellmate out of the cell on a pretext.

On the next to last visit, the woman said he came into her cell, stared at her for a long time, then took her hand and placed it on his crotch.

"In all actuality, it was probably a second, but it felt like forever," she said, sobbing.

He then told her to get undressed, that he would be right back. She did so, but then crawled into her bed, hoping that when he came back he would think she was asleep.

Bennish came back into the room and ordered her to get out of bed. After looking at her for a while he left, she said.

Although she told her mother, a friend and an attorney about the incidents the next day, the woman said she didn't speak to the police about them until they came to her.

"I was in a situation where, who was going to believe me? They weren't going to believe that a cop did that and who am I? I have a high-profile case and they're just going to think that I'm lying," the woman said.

The woman admitted she told Bennish she was an exotic dancer. She then began to cry, sobbing that she didn't understand why defense attorney Herb Sachs was making her look like she was to blame.

"Miss, it's not my intent to treat you badly, but I represent Mr. Bennish and I've got to make sure his constitutional rights are protected," Sachs said.

"What about my constitutional rights?" the woman asked.

Sachs asked no further questions.