TikToker who calls himself ‘your girlfriends favorite influencer’ is behind bars for terrorizing many women over 10 years
17 criminal counts.
A TikTok influencer with over a million followers, Benjamin O. Gleason has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing seven victims across a ten-year period. New York State Police announced the charges on Monday, March 23, following what they described as an “extensive investigation.”
According to Us Magazine, Gleason, 39, who calls Chatham home, was taken into custody on Friday, March 20. He’s facing a staggering 17 criminal counts, which include three counts of predatory sexual assault, three counts of first-degree rape involving forcible compulsion, and another three counts of first-degree rape involving physically helpless victims.
On top of that, the TikToker has also been charged with four counts of a first-degree criminal sexual act, second-degree aggravated sexual abuse, first-degree sexual abuse, a third-degree criminal sexual act, and third-degree rape.
Gleason is facing a seriously long list of allegations
During his arraignment on March 23, Gleason pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him, according to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege in a sealed indictment that these sexual assaults involved seven different individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 27, and took place in Columbia County between 2011 and 2021.
Gleason is currently being represented by defense attorney Mark Steven Portin. Following his arraignment, he was remanded to the Columbia County Jail, and he’s scheduled to appear back in court on April 29.
Before his arrest, Gleason had been living in a motel located in Castleton-on-Hudson, after previously residing in Chatham, which is about a 30-mile drive southeast from Albany. On TikTok, where he’s known as @benjigleason, he’s amassed over 1 million followers and more than 50 million likes on his videos. His bio prominently declares, “I am an American artist, and your girlfriends favorite influencer.”
You might also notice in his TikTok bio a public appeal for help with dental repairs, complete with a GoFundMe link. On that page, Gleason actually wrote that the damage to his mouth was a result of past drug addiction, and he claimed to have been “clean and sober for over two years.”
It’s odd to see someone share such personal details publicly. This is more strange in Gleason’s case, especially when contrasted with the current legal situation. If he is ultimately found guilty of all the counts against him, he could be looking at a life sentence, according to the district attorney’s office.
This is a developing situation, and authorities are encouraging anyone who might have relevant information regarding the investigation into Gleason to reach out. You can call New York State Police Troop K Headquarters at (845) 677-7300 and mention case number NY2600259941. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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