POLICE SPOKESMAN ACCUSED OF TEEN SEX

Madison - A 29-year-old police spokesman has been accused of providing
drugs to and having sex with a 17-year-old boy, according to a
criminal complaint.

Benjamin B. Vanden Belt, who has served as the public information
officer for the Madison Police Department, was charged Thursday with
one count of delivering cocaine and four misdemeanor counts of having
sexual intercourse with a child over the age of 16.

The teenager told police he had sex with Vanden Belt about 20 times
between May 1 and Aug. 30 and used drugs with Vanden Belt at his
apartment on three occasions, according to the complaint.

The felony charge carries a possible 15-year prison sentence. Each
misdemeanor charge carries a possible nine-month jail term.

Vanden Belt was booked and released from the Dane County Jail
Wednesday night, and bail was set Thursday. He has been on
administrative leave since the end of August pending an internal
investigation.