TikTok personality Benjamin Gleason was arrested Friday in New York on multiple felony sex assault charges, according to law enforcement records. The social media influencer, 39, was booked March 20 at the Columbia County Jail in Hudson, New York, facing a sweeping indictment that includes two counts of rape.
The charges against Gleason are extensive. Court documents list the following: two counts of rape; predatory sexual assault committed against more than one person; criminal sexual act in the first degree by forcible compulsion; aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree; sexual abuse in the first degree; and criminal sex acts conducted with a person incapable of consent.
The predatory sexual assault charge is particularly significant under New York law, as it applies to cases involving multiple victims and carries the potential for a life sentence upon conviction.
Gleason amassed 1.1 million followers on TikTok by presenting himself as an open book. His content ranged from lip-sync videos and musical performances to candid discussions about living with borderline personality disorder. On his page, he described himself as “an American artist” and, with self-deprecating humor, “your girlfriend’s favorite influencer.”
His Instagram account, with approximately 31,000 followers, lists him as a performance artist, musician, and AV production professional, along with the descriptor “lost AF.”
The arrest comes just weeks after Gleason launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $6,000 for dental repairs. In the March 6 post, he wrote openly about his history of addiction and his current sobriety.
“My name is Benjamin, and I’m reaching out for help to repair my teeth after years of struggling with addiction,” he wrote. He described being “clean and sober” for over two years but said the physical damage from his past remained a daily reminder.
“Every day, I’m reminded of my journey and the toll it took on my health, especially when I look in the mirror or try to smile,” Gleason said in the fundraising appeal. He added that as “an influencer with over a million followers on TikTok, connecting with people and spreading positivity is my passion,” but that his dental issues left him unable to “truly be” himself.
Gleason remains in custody at the Columbia County Jail following his March 20 booking. The predatory sexual assault charge, which alleges offenses against more than one person, indicates the case may involve multiple accusers, though authorities have not released additional details about the alleged incidents or the timeline of the investigation.
The social media influencer has not yet issued a public statement regarding the charges. Legal proceedings are expected to move forward in Columbia County court in the coming weeks.
