BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- A 20-year-old Cincinnati man accused of raping and kidnapping a teen-age girl at Paramount's Kings Island pleaded not guilty to felony charges in Mason Municipal Court Tuesday.
James H. Bennett, a seasonal employee at the amusement park, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape and kidnapping.
Mason Municipal Court Judge David K. Batsche set bond for Mr. Bennett at $100,000. Mr. Bennett is being held at Warren County Jail pending a preliminary hearing Monday.
According to Mason police, Mr. Bennett, who was not working at the time, forced a 15-year-old girl into a restroom and raped her Friday evening after offering to show her a quicker way out of the park through an employee exit.
Mason Police Detective Todd Carter said the girl told police that she and Mr. Bennett had met several times, but she described him as only an acquaintance. The two ran into each other as they were leaving the park following a special event.
Barbara Colnar, a spokeswoman for Kings Island, said the park, which normally closes at 10 p.m., stayed open an extra three hours Friday because of a promotional dance party.
"We are outraged and deeply disturbed that an incident like this could ever happen at our park," she said. "In our 26-year history, we have serviced more than 75 million guests and employed over 125,000 associates and in that time there has never been an incident such as this take place."
Ms. Colnar said Mr. Bennett, who operated one of the park's gaming booths, was in his first season on staff and began working in April. Mr. Bennett has been suspended pending the outcome of court proceedings, she said.
Ms. Colnar said an offer remains open from Paramount's Kings Island to the 15-year-old girl and her family for any assistance that might help them cope with the incident.
A female park employee, whose name is not being released, heard a noise and found Mr. Bennett and the 15-year-old girl in the restroom. Police said the woman pulled the man off the teen, and he ran away. Mr. Bennett was brought into the Mason Police Department by his mother Saturday afternoon, after investigators contacted several of his relatives.
Ms. Colnar said the park plans to commend the employee who aided the girl by starting an "outstanding associate scholarship fund" in her honor.
