[Pantyholic]

Reno County jurors took about two hours Thursday to deem a Hutchinson man guilty of entering his neighbor's apartment naked and stealing her underwear.

Carl Bengston Jr., 48, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of theft.

He reportedly entered the 23-year-old woman's apartment in January and April 2009 while he was naked. During the trial this week, the woman took the stand and identified Bengston as the naked man who was in her apartment in April.

Testifying in his own defense Wednesday, Bengston admitted he was found naked in the woman's apartment in April, but he couldn't remember much because he had taken cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana beforehand.

He claimed he felt intimidated by officers when he was arrested in April, so he told them "what they wanted to hear."

Bengston denied stealing the woman's underwear, although officers reported finding it in his possession before he was booked into the Reno County jail.

In January, a friend of the woman was sleeping in her apartment when he awoke to see a naked man run out the door. Bengston was not identified in the January incident, and both the woman and her friend could not recall hearing noise from the stairs to the second-story apartments after the naked man left.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephen Maxwell argued it had to have been Bengston who fled to his apartment across the hall.

During the trial, jurors visited the second-story apartments and saw the stairwell described by Hutchinson police officers as old, noisy and rickety.

Bengston's criminal history includes five previous convictions of lewd and lascivious behavior, which District Judge Richard Rome allowed Maxwell to inform the jury of this week.

Bengston is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 5.

Source: www.hutchnews.com

[satinguy469]

That's two dumb things. To go into her apartment is bad enough. To be naked while doing it, unbelievable. I'm sure he wanted to put those panties on quick, but at least wait until you're in your apartment again.

[mic091221]

I agree but its three dumb things,,, trespassing in the apartment,, second,, Naked,, and third,,,,,,,,, getting caught... and doing it twice,,, january and april???? what an arse

[satingoodness]

Somehow I missed this on the Hutch News website. I used to live there and frequently check the news there.

Did some checking because I was curious if the apartment complex was one I was familiar with but it was not. I am ,however, familiar with the judge. This is not a judge you want sentencing you for anything - especially something like this. This guy was already a registered sex offender. This judge will not be lenient.

[KnickerBocker]

He felt intimidated by police, well yeah; 1) You're naked, 2) You're in possession of stolen panties, 3) You're stoned out of your mind on coke, meth, & pot, 4) Lastly there are police catching you in this state. You would probably be intimidated even if they just put both their hands in there pockets and stood there without asking any questions, which of course they didn't.