Van Buren Man Sexually Assaults Wife At Gun Point

VAN BUREN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Van Buren county man, accused of holding his wife hostage and sexually assaulting her, faces a number of felony charges.

Deputies say Melvin Benson of Bloomingdale tried to strangle his wife and then put a gun to her head. He forced her to perform sexual acts at gunpoint. The victim says it happened Monday night at the couple's home on Michigan avenue. She says the ordeal lasted all throughout the night. Fortunately she was able to escape when the sun came up.

When deputies searched the house they found several guns and marijuana inside. Melvin Benson is charged with kidnapping,1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, and assault.