Seward man convicted of sexual abuse of a minor

He faces a sentence of 20 to 35 years on each count

A Kenai jury on Monday found a local man guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, according to a release from the Alaska Department of Law.

Vernon Bennett, 62, of Seward, was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree after a July 2019 incident with a 10-year-old girl.

Bennett’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 of this year, according to the release. He faces a sentence of 20 to 35 years on each count, and a maximum sentence of up to 198 years in prison.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

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