A Gowrie man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for felony sexual assault against a child.

Benjamin Gibson, 23, was sentenced Friday in Webster County District Court by Judge Adria Kester.

Gibson was found guilty by a jury of second degree felony sexual assault of a child in September.

Using Snapchat, Gibson groomed and lured the 13-year-old victim from her home in Marion County in January 2024, according to prosecutors. He drove from Gowrie to the victim’s home, more than two hours away in southern Iowa, where he removed her from her home and brought her back to a home in Fort Dodge, prosecutors said..

The Fort Dodge Police Department later found Gibson and the victim in bed together at 1408 Fifth Ave. N. on Jan. 25, 2024. Gibson was arrested and the victim was reunited with her mother.

In a packed courtroom Friday which was filled with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse and members of law enforcement, the victim read a statement to Gibson.

“I hope you know the agonizing pain you put me through,” said the victim. “I will never forgive you. You deserve to never be let out.”

A victim impact statement was also written by the victim’s mother.

“You’re a disgusting, manipulating, grown man in his 20s that went two hours and 21 minutes out of his way to a small town in southern Iowa to entice, manipulate, and intimidate a 13-year-old girl. Still to this day, I question what is wrong with you. Why did you think this was appropriate or OK? You stole any ounce of innocence from my daughter and placed her in such a traumatic and endangered environment. I will never forgive you for doing the things you have done and the traumatic effects still to this day that you left my daughter with.”

Gibson also asked to address the court stating “I think this is (expletive).

Kester sentenced Gibson to the mandatory 25 years in prison and extended a no contact order with the victim and victim’s family. Gibson must also register as a sex offender. He is mandated to serve at least 70-percent of his prison term before he will be eligible for parole.

“This is a proper punishment,” said Webster County First Assistant County Attorney Brad McIntyre.

Gibson was immediately transferred to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections.