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Kidnapping suspect now charged in Marshalltown By John Speer CIP jspeer@tamatoledonews.com

Benjamin Don Braithwaite, the 28-year-old Utah man facing a 3rd degree kidnapping charge in Tama County now faces two counts of 3rd degree sexual abuse and a charge of false imprisonment filed by Marshalltown Police. Braithwaite was arrested upon release from the Tama County Jail on April 7 and is now being held in the Marshall County Jail on $50,000 cash bond. He posted 10 percent of a $100,000 bond for release in Tama County. According to court records, Braithwaite allegedly had an ongoing internet relationship with a girl beginning in three years ago when she was age 14. From court records it appears the girl was living in Marshalltown when the contact began. Records state Braithwaite was “was having inappropriate sexual internet conversations” with her. It goes on to say Odem, Utah, detectives told Braithwaite in 2013 the victim, her parents and Marshalltown Police “wanted him to have no further contact in any way with the victim.” In Tama County court documents it is alleged Braithwaite traveled from Utah to Garwin, picked up the girl and returned with her to Utah last year. Court records list his home address in both Orem and Payson, Utah. During the trip he took the victim’s cellphone and provided her with one of his own, the complaint states. The complaint charges evidence will show Braithwaite sexually and physically assaulted the victim in other jurisdictions.’ Braithwaite had been arrested by the Tama County Sheriff’s Office on March 19.