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Director Of Youth Theatre Arrested On Suspicion Of Rape

Posted: 4:53 pm PST December 12, 2007Updated: 5:44 pm PST December 12, 2007

Benjamin Keylin, 57, has been charged with raping a friend’s daughter.

Keylin, the executive director at Youth Theatre Northwest since 2003, allegedly raped an 18-year-old woman who has a mild form of autism, investigators said.

According to detectives, Keylin raped the woman multiple times and at least one time at his own condominium.

“It’s really surprising. I used to go to the Youth Theatre. It’s very uncomfortable,” Mercer Island resident Emily Weaver said.

Investigators said Keylin began inappropriately touching the girl and then raped her.

“The victims were not affiliated with the theater as far as we can tell,” Gregg Grannis with Bellevue police said.

Police taped a conversation between Keylin and the victim on Dec. 6.

According to court documents, the victim asked Keylin, “Why did you have sex with me when I told no?”

Keylin responded, “Sometimes people make bad, bad choices, that’s all I can say. And they’re very sorry for it and we can only hope that people who are really spiritual like you can forgive them.”

Grannis told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News that investigators do not believe there are any other victims.

Keylin is on leave from the theater.

“He was generally a really nice guy out there. He loved his job, I never expected that from him,” Weaver said.

Investigators said Keylin also touched the victim's 16-year-old sister inappropriately.

Keylin will be arraigned on Dec. 18.

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