Full Notification

Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III announced that Stephen Behnke, age 58, of Stockton, NJ was sentenced today in Hunterdon County Superior Court by the Honorable Stephen B. Rubin, J.S.C. to 364 days in the County Jail.
According to Prosecutor Kearns, Mr. Behnke owned & operated a business known as Jersey Equipment, located in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County.
The Prosecutor said, “The victim had answered an employment ad at Jersey Equipment and reported to work on October 19, 2008. After her first and only day on the job, she reported to local law enforcement that she had been touched inappropriately by her employer. The victim also told police that she felt as though she had been locked in the building while being spoken to inappropriately that day.”
“In addition, the victim told police that her employer fondled her and spoke inappropriately to her during a car ride that day. She reported to police that she felt like she was unable to exit the vehicle,” according to Kearns.
After pre-trial motions, a two count indictment for Criminal Restraint 3rd Degree and Criminal Sexual Contact 4th Degree was tried by First Assistant Prosecutor James J. Janci. Defense Attorney, Tony Rotunno presented testimony during trial that Behnke’s office door and vehicle door could not be locked. On March 28, 2011, the Jury returned a guilty verdict on the charge of Criminal Sexual Contact. Behnke was found not guilty on the Criminal Restraint charge.
At the time of the incident, Mr. Benke had been on probation for a 3rd Degree Theft from August 2008. As result, he was also charged with a violation of his probation.
In addition to jail, Judge Rubin also sentenced Mr. Behnke to four years probation on the new offense and extended his probation on the prior offense
Judge Rubin also ordered Behnke to register as a sex offender according to Meghan’s Law. In addition, a Restraining Order was issued prohibiting contact with the victim as per Nicole’s Law. The defendant must also submit a DNA sample.
In the event of another Violation of Probation, the Court could sentence Mr. Benke to the maximum sentence of 5 years in state prison.
The Prosecutor commended the joint investigation conducted by Detective Justin Blackwell of the New Jersey State Police and DSGT. Kristin Larsen of the HCPO Special Victims Unit.