Franklin Square Hospital employee arrested and charged with sexual abuse of minor patient

On February 10, Police in Baltimore County reported arresting a former hospital employee and charging him with several sex offenses, thanks to a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Arrested was 40-year-old Donald Joseph Benson Jr. of the 3400 block of Park Falls Drive, Nottingham, Maryland. Benson was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with multiple sex offenses – including the sexual abuse of a minor.

Benson was an employee of the MedStar Franklin Square Hospital in the Rossville section of Baltimore County at the time of those sexual offenses, according to WBAL-TV.

Benson became the subject of an investigation after detectives received a tip that he may be involved in the viewing of child pornography. As a result of the ensuing investigation, detectives uncovered explicit images of a juvenile female being sexually assaulted, who detectives determined was a patient at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center at the time of the assault. Benson was an employee of the hospital at the time the assault occurred in September of 2016.

While executing a search warrant, police found sexually explicit images of a teen, identified by police as a MedStar Franklin patient by her hospital bracelet, police spokeswoman Jennifer Peach said. The photos appear to have been taken in the hospital, she said. ~ The Baltimore Sun

On Monday, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center released a statement saying, “The safety and care of our patients is paramount. We were appalled to learn that one of our associates is alleged to have abused a patient in our care. As soon as we heard, we terminated the associate’s employment and have offered our full cooperation to law enforcement.”

Detectives are asking anyone who may have additional information on this case or any other incidents that Benson may have been involved in to contact detectives by calling the Baltimore County Police Crimes Against Children Unit at 410-853-3650.