Authorities in Jefferson have requested arrest warrants for two residents accused of ongoing child sexual abuse. According to Jefferson Police Captain Jason Kroeger, the warrants result from an ongoing investigation into 37-year-old Benjamin Jeffrey Ellingson and 39-year-old Shanda Jean Ellingson. Court documents show the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson Police Department executed a search warrant at their home last week. Authorities recovered evidence that led to multiple charges for each suspect. Benjamin Ellingson is charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a class A felony, continuous sexual abuse, a class B felony, lascivious acts with a child and sexual exploitation of a minor, class C felonies, and enticing a minor under 16 years of age and prostitution, class D felonies. Shanda Ellingson is charged with continuous sexual abuse, a class B felony, willful injury and third-degree sexual abuse through coercion by a person in authority, class C felonies, solicitation of lascivious acts and enticing a minor under 16 years of age, class D felonies, and various misdemeanors. Information on these individuals’ whereabouts should be reported to the Greene County Law Enforcement Center at 515-386-2136 or your nearest law enforcement agency.
