Defendant sentenced in 2008 Highland County Common Pleas Court case

Nearly 16 years after being indicted, a Scioto County man was sentenced Wednesday in a 2008 Highland County case involving non-support of dependents.

Dwight Benner, now 55, of Friendship was indicted in January 2008 on one count of non-support of dependents, a fifth-degree felony. During the sentencing hearing Nov. 8, 2023, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said that the defendant was “just recently located and served.”

Benner pleaded guilty to the charge Oct. 6.

According to Highland County Assistant Prosecutor Adam King, Benner owes $40,158.19 in total arrearage. Benner’s attorney, JD Wagoner, advised that Benner is “reaching out to the resources necessary” to begin working to pay off the debt.

Coss sentenced Benner to five years of community control and ordered him to pay back the $40,158.19 to the Highland County Child Support Enforcement Agency.