Nassau, Bahamas- Prosecutors on Tuesday dropped the case against a 45-year-old man accused of harboring a runaway teen and having a sexual relationship with her.
The 16-year-old girl ran away on July 5, 2021 to be with Marvin Beneby soon after they met online. She stayed with him for a month.
On August 9, police charged Beneby with abduction of an unmarried person between the age of 16 and 18, an offense that carries up to a two-year prison sentence.
The case took a surprising twist last month when the minor provided her lover with a defence when she testified that she had lied about her age.
When the case resumed before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle on January 18, the prosecutor withdrew the case.
He said he made the decision after speaking with the child’s parents.
As a result, Beneby was discharged.
