The Karnes County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Gillett man was taken into custody early Nov. 30 after investigators determined he violently assaulted a victim at a residence off County Road 289 near the Gonzales County line.
According to a release from the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office, the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office alerted Karnes County investigators at approximately 3:09 a.m. after the victim sought medical treatment and reported being sexually assaulted earlier in the night. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment and a sexual assault nurse examination, during which investigators found evidence that the assault occurred. The release states the suspect choked the victim to the point they could not breathe and later threatened them with a knife.
Given the violent nature of the allegations and the suspect’s past violent criminal history — including a 2020 arrest for assault causing bodily injury — Karnes County authorities requested assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers Division and the DPS Special Weapons and Tactics team.
Led by Sheriff Steven Bailey, law enforcement responded to the suspect’s location, where DPS and KCSO personnel used tactical techniques to take the suspect into custody. Three arrest warrants connected to the incident had been issued prior to the arrest. After the apprehension, investigators with KCSO CID and the Texas Rangers executed a search warrant at the location and recovered multiple items of evidentiary value.
According to jail records obtained by the Karnes Countywide, Benjamin Keith Ferguson of Gillett was arrested and faces charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault family/household member–impeding breath or circulation.
Sheriff Bailey thanked DPS and the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance, noting that interagency cooperation was vital in safely taking the suspect into custody and processing the crime scene in what he described as a complex felony investigation.