TikTok Star Benjamin Gleason Arrested and Faces Multiple Sexual Abuse Charges, Including Rape

39-year-old TikTok star with over one million followers, Benjamin Gleason, was arrested on Friday, 20 March, and is facing multiple sexual abuse charges, including rape. On Monday, 23 March, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Livingston announced his arrest.

The content creator, known to his fans as an artist and musician, faces 18 charges, and his arrest has sent shockwaves through the digital creator community, where Gleason had built a reputation for candid storytelling and performance art. However, legal documents now paint a much darker picture of the New York native.

Charged for Sexual Abuse and Rape

Gleason was arrested and booked on the evening of 20 March and is facing a long list of serious charges. According to the state police, the investigation was launched in February 2026 after they learned some information about incidents of sexual abuse.

Law enforcement looked into the allegations, and they wrote: 'As the investigation progressed, it was determined the abuse occurred over approximately 10 years and involved multiple victims.'

In total, the social media star faces 18 criminal charges following a coordinated investigation by the state police. According to the official announcement, the most severe of these include three counts of predatory sexual assault, which is classified as a class A-II felony.

Gleason is further charged with six counts of first-degree rape. Three of these counts relate to 'forcible compulsion,' while the remaining three counts involve a victim being 'physically helpless.' Both variations are classified as class B felonies under New York state law.

The extensive indictment also lists four counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, a class B felony. Other charges brought against the 39-year-old include second-degree aggravated sexual abuse (class C felony), first-degree sexual abuse involving forcible compulsion (class D felony), and third-degree counts of both criminal sexual act and rape, which are both classified as class E felonies.

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

As reported by India Times, the influencer was arrested in New York and is currently being processed through the state's judicial system. While the charges are numerous, authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding the specific identities of the complainants to protect their privacy.

Gleason is currently being held as the court determines the next steps for his trial. Legal experts suggest that the 'predatory sexual assault' charge is particularly grave, as it often involves multiple victims or specific aggravating factors.

As of now, Gleason has not entered a formal plea, and his legal representatives have not issued a public statement. Under the law, all allegations remain unproven until a verdict is reached in a court of law.

Benjamin Gleason's Rise to Social Media Fame

Beyond the recent legal proceedings, Benjamin Gleason, 39, is a well-known figure in the digital art and music space. A native of New York, he rose to prominence on TikTok, where he amassed a following of 1.1 million users by blending performance art with personal vlogs and musical snippets

On his TikTok profile, Gleason's bio read: 'I am an American artist' and he also described himself as 'your girlfriends favorite influencer.'

Gleason's public persona was often defined by his 'artist-first' approach, frequently sharing his creative process and behind-the-scenes glimpses into his life in the Capital Region.

To his audience, he was more than just a content creator; he was a storyteller who used his platform to document his personal journey, including his public advocacy for sobriety.

In the months prior to his arrest, Gleason had pivoted his content toward his recovery efforts, celebrating two years of being 'clean and sober.' He was also an active musician, often incorporating original audio and lip-sync performances into his videos, which regularly garnered hundreds of thousands of views. His influence extended to Instagram, where he maintained a secondary community of fans interested in his visual art and lifestyle updates.

He had recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for dental surgery, stating that his past struggles had damaged his teeth and hindered his confidence on camera. 'I just want to be able to smile again and feel like the person I am becoming,' Gleason shared in a recent video, a sentiment that now stands in stark contrast to the severity of the criminal allegations he faces.