Testimony in the child molestation trial of 46-year-old Roderick Bennett began Tuesday in a Warren County courtroom. Bennett is accused of gratification of lust with a child under the age of 16.

The victim was the first to testify, stating that her family lived next door to the defendant and her parents had known him for years. She testified that, on the day in question, Bennett called her to come into his truck. According to her testimony, she did and she and Bennett talked for a while. She stated he molested her by touching. The victim immediately told her father, who called the Vicksburg Police Department. She also testified that this was not the first incident in which Bennett had touched her, with previous incidents having occurred one year prior.

The victim stated that there had been prior abuse that her mother was aware of. In a trial in March 2024, brothers Hyman Cosby and Bennie Cosby were sentenced to 30 years each for sexual battery involving the victim. The victim’s mother was sentenced to life for her role in the trafficking of her daughter.

The victim’s father testified that he had no idea the victim was being sexually abused until she told him. He and the victim’s mother were separated, and the molestation had occurred during times the mother had visitation with the child, he said. The victim’s father testified that he had known Bennett since they were in high school together and at one point, they had even been roommates.

Officers from the Vicksburg Police Department testified regarding the day they were called to the scene. They confirmed that the victim gave them a statement that she had gotten into a truck with Bennett, and he proceeded to touch her.

The victim’s mother also testified. She confirmed that she was currently in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for sex trafficking of a minor. She admitted to accepting money in exchange for allowing Bennett to touch her daughter and using this money to buy drugs. Only recently did she confess to her role in allowing the defendant to touch her daughter. This was not presented in the previous trial of the Cosby brothers.

Next, a forensic examiner from the Children’s Advocacy Center testified about her interactions with the victim. There were two separate interviews, one in April 2023 regarding the allegations with the Cosby brothers, and another in May 2023 regarding the incident with the defendant in his truck, she said. There was some confusion as to whether or not the victim informed the examiner at the April visit about other encounters with Bennett prior to the incident in the truck. The examiner testified that, during the April interview, she wrote the name “Bennett” on a whiteboard in the examination room, confirming that they had discussed the incident with the defendant. She could not explain why there was no follow-up on the matter after the April 2023 interview.

The trial is scheduled to Wednesday with additional witness testimony.