Prosecutors are trying to salvage their case against a Dade City man accused of "marrying" two girls after he told them he received visions from God that they would bear his children.
Assistant State Attorney Sherry Byerly said officials had to drop rape charges against Bruce Behensky, 50, of 3423 Amie Court, after one of the girls refused to testify in August. But now they have filed new charges that could land him in prison for the rest of his life if he is convicted on all counts and gets the maximum penalties.
Originally, a girl told sheriff's authorities that Behensky, who believes in polygamy, "married" her in his bedroom on her 12th birthday in the fall of 1999 as two other of his adult "wives" looked on. He then proceeded to have sex with her 10 times, she initially told investigators, who arrested Behensky on 10 counts of sexual battery and four counts of neglect in April of last year.
After the girl stopped cooperating, only the more minor neglect charges remained.
But prosecutors continued working to strengthen the case around the testimony of the second girl, who says she was 15 when Behensky took her as a bride and then made her sign a "blood pact" that she would never leave him. The teen told authorities that she knew the ceremony was wrong and refused to have sex with Behensky when he told her it was God's will. Soon after, the girl tried to commit suicide, and one of Behensky's adult "wives" went to the Sheriff's Office.
Byerly filed new charges this month against Behensky that stem from this second child bride. They replace the old neglect charges and include lewd and lascivious solicitation, sex solicitation, five counts of child abuse and four new counts of child neglect. The abuse charges stem from the marriage ceremony and blood pact, but the neglect charge stems from other conditions in the home discovered since Behensky's arrest.
According to records, Behensky often restricted the teen's diet to bread and water. He also failed to educate any of the children in his home, whom his wives home-schooled poorly, officials say. Court records indicate Behensky fathered as many as 10 children, whom an ex-wife contends he mentally abused, using threats of God's vengeance.
The children have since been taken from his home, enrolled in school and are receiving special counseling and tutoring, Byerly said. While Behensky awaits the outcome of his criminal case, he is suing one of his former wives for custody of some of his children, contending she is crazy and believes she is possessed by Satan.