Merrimack Man Arrested, Arraigned On Several Child Rape Charges

MERRIMACK, NH — A man from Merrimack was arrested earlier this month and held on preventative detention on multiple sexual assault charges.

Benjamin Paul Rule, 45, was arrested on Aug. 3 on incest and six aggravated felonious sexual assault charges, all felonies.

The case came to the attention of police after repeated therapy sessions with a girl which led to a report by the Division of Children, Youth, and Families raising concerns about sexualized behaviors and comments. Investigators arranged for a team of specialists to interview the girl and speak with others about the case. During the interaction with investigators, the girl accused Rule of raping and fondling her for two years.

Benjamin Rule Credit: Merrimack Police

Later, an officer met with Rule to discuss the case.

An affidavit said he denied the allegations and did not know why the girl would say such things. The officer accused him of being “nervous and fidgety” while being questioned and “playing with his hands very nervously under the table.”

After the officer told Rule he did not believe him, he confessed, the affidavit stated. He admitted to, at first, assaulting the girl, beginning sometime in summer 2020, and then building up to sexual assault during a period of time, the affidavit stated.

Rule was arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court South on Aug. 3 and released on personal recognizance bail. His charges were revised in superior court to incest, pattern-aggravated felonious sexual assault, and two aggravated felonious sexual assault charges, all felonies. Rule is due back in court on Oct. 6 for a dispositional conference hearing.

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