Vicksburg man acquitted of child molesting

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Roderick Bennett of Vicksburg (originally from Edwards) has been acquitted on charges of molesting a 14-year-old. The jury deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes before they returned with a not-guilty verdict.

46-year-old Roderick Bennett was originally charged with gratification of lust with a child under the age of 16. He was accused of fondling the victim’s breast and private area in 2023.

The victim took the stand on Tuesday where she testified that Bennett called her to his truck that day and rubbed her breast and the inside of her panties. Before the teenager broke down and cried on the stand, she went on to state that she told him to stop before running home to tell her father.

In 2024, the victim’s mother was convicted of trafficking her to two men, Benny and Hyman Cosby. They were sentenced to 30 years in 2024. The mother received a life sentence for trafficking. 

Bennett was represented by defense attorney John Bullard who pointed out that there was no physical evidence and that the victim didn’t disclose that Bennett molested her when first interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center in April. Branan Southerland and Liem Walker represented the state in this case.

Members of the Vicksburg Police Department, Christopher Shells and Carlton Phillips, both testified that they responded to the scene on Halls Ferry where the victim told them that Bennett called her over to his truck while she was playing outside and inappropriately touched on her while she sat in his truck.

The victim’s mother

The victim’s mother, who was transported to court from prison, took the stand. She testified that she had known Bennett for a long time and that he was her husband’s friend. She also mentioned that she allowed Bennett to perform sexual acts on her daughter in exchange for money that she would use for drugs. The mother also stated that she never told her husband that she did that and that she only allowed Bennett to perform oral sex on the child.

Southerland pointed out that the victim’s mother had nothing to gain from her testimony and that she would die in prison due to her life sentence.

“I’m just here for my daughter,” the victim’s mom said.

Members from the Child Advocacy Center conducted an interview with the victim and also took the stand along with a members of the UMMC Safe Center who performed a rape kit.

A former stepdaughter of Bennett testified via Zoom. She testified that when she was 13 years old, Bennett rubbed himself up against her and fondled her breasts. 

Bennett took the stand on Wednesday and declared nothing happened between him and the victim. He mentioned that on the day of the incident, the victim asked him for $10 because she had good grades. He told her he had no money and that her father was at the truck a short time later. In later testimony, Bennett addressed the allegations from his former stepdaughter. He stated nothing happened there, but he admitted to mistakenly entering a bathroom in the house and quickly left when he realized someone was in the shower. Southerland questioned Bennett’s testimony and asked how he remembered something that was supposedly nothing from 18 years ago.

Closing arguments

During closing arguments, Assistant DA Walker went through the case again with the jury present and reshared the case details. She urged them to return with a guilty verdict. 

Ballard went on to state that nothing happened between the victim and his client and that the state failed to provide evidence to support their claims.

Southerland had the final words for the state. He told the jury that just because there’s no physical evidence or witnesses, that doesn’t mean nothing happened. He also stated child molesters rarely do things around witnesses.

Bennett was acquitted of all charges. Separately, Texas authorities have also dismissed previous drug charges against him.