SafeNest worker’s sexual coercion caught on video

By Conor Shine

Friday, July 27, 2012 | 10:37 a.m.

An exchange where an employee at a North Las Vegas social services agency tried to coerce a women into having sex with him instead of working her community service hours was caught on video by the victim, according to police documents.

The incident occurred Sunday when a 24-year-old woman reported to the SafeNest Donation Center at 4208 Arcata Way to discuss her duties. SafeNest is a nonprofit that assists victims of domestic violence.

At the center, the woman met with Benedetto Vitale, director of operations, planning to talk about working off 171 hours of court-mandated community service stemming from a Los Angeles arrest for driving under the influence, according to a police report.

Instead, Vitale tried to pressure the woman into having sex with him in exchange for signing off on her community services and kissed the woman on the mouth in his office, according to an arrest report.

After being kissed, the woman grabbed her cell phone and discreetly began recording Vitale as he explained what sex acts he would like her to perform, according to police.

The woman excused herself from Vitale’s office to smoke a cigarette, at which point she fled and called North Las Vegas Police, according to the report.

Vitale, who has worked for SafeNet for eight years, was charged with one count each of open and gross lewdness, forgery and sexually motivated coercion.

During an interview with police, Vitale allegedly admitted offering to forge the victim’s community service hours for sex, telling police he was “going through a rough time in his life” and that he was unsure why he propositioned the woman, the report said.

Vitale denied that he had propositioned any other volunteers, the report said. Police spoke with three female volunteers at the center who said Vitale never offered to sign off on their community service in exchange for sex, the report said, although police are still reviewing SafeNest records for other possible victims.

SafeNest, according to its website, has been in operation since 1977, and offers “confidential assistance including shelter, food, clothing, counseling, education and other services to individuals experiencing domestic violence.” An executive director heads the nonprofit agency, which is overseen by a board of directors.

Officials urge anyone with more information regarding the case to call the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-91111 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.