rape
-
Toll to sexual assault survivors rises if they feel blamed and disbelieved
—
by
Natalie, a single mother, dropped off her son at daycare, went to therapy and then returned home. She swallowed a fistful of pills, washing them down with a six-pack of beer. She was ready to end her life. “I just wanted the pain to go away,” she said. Brittney Smith, an artist living in Colorado…
-
Colorado rape cases rarely result in an arrest and prosecution
—
by
Authorities say they are especially difficult cases. In Colorado, most go nowhere. Over the past decade, for every 10 reports of rape, there is only one arrest. Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence. Kiersten May remembered a fuzziness overtake her as Saturday night slid into Sunday morning at the remote Colorado mountain campsite…
-
10th Circuit dismisses man’s lawsuit against Arvada detective, accuser for rape accusation
—
by
The Denver-based federal appeals court agreed last week that a man had not credibly alleged he was prosecuted for rape without probable cause because, in part, he apologized for raping the alleged victim on a recorded phone call. Gary Weidner III sued Detective Kristin Ames and his former romantic partner, identified as “Jane Doe,” after…
-
Colorado Supreme Court identifies potential red flag in state’s sex offender sentencing law
—
by
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday suggested the 25-year-old law governing criminal sentences for sex offenders might run afoul of the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when applied to juveniles serving lengthy terms of incarceration. The ultimate question of whether the Sex Offender Lifetime Supervision Act, or SOLSA, is unconstitutional in the case of…
-
Colorado Supreme Court identifies potential red flag in state’s sex offender sentencing law
—
by
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday suggested the 25-year-old law governing criminal sentences for sex offenders might run afoul of the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when applied to juveniles serving lengthy terms of incarceration. The ultimate question of whether the Sex Offender Lifetime Supervision Act, or SOLSA, is unconstitutional in the case of…
-
Arapahoe County judge let biased juror serve, prompting reversal of serial rapist’s convictions
—
by
A man with a history of raping women, who is serving 136 years in prison, will receive a new trial after the state’s second-highest court concluded an Arapahoe County judge allowed a biased juror to serve in the 2021 trial. On Thursday, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded, by 2-1, that it…
-
10th Circuit finds prison officials had immunity for sexual assault of inmate
—
by
The federal appeals court based in Denver has granted immunity to three officials who allegedly failed to protect an inmate from sexual assault despite hearing about the risk of physical violence to her. In reaching its decision, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit sidestepped the issue of whether…
-
EMILY’s List targets Colorado Republicans Mike Coffman, Scott Tipton in 2018 election
—
by
EMILY’s List, a national group that recruits and helps fund Democratic women candidates, put two Colorado Republicans “on notice” Thursday, naming U.S. Reps. Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton to its list of top GOP targets in next year’s election. The group charged that Coffman and Tipton have poor records on issues important to women –…
-
Colorado U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner talks security threats with Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte
—
by
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner met Wednesday with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at an airbase in Manila, drawing strong criticism from a local progressive organization that demanded a “full accounting” of the senator’s powwow with “a murderous strongman.” But a spokesman said the Yuma Republican was simply doing his job by discussing security threats with an…
-
Following Colorado’s lead, Montana to test 1,400 unprocessed rape kits dating to 1995
—
by
Montana will be following the Colorado Legislature’s lead when it tests 1,400 rape kits dating back to 1995 that weren’t submitted to the state’s crime lab by local law enforcement authorities, Attorney General Tim Fox said Thursday. The state also will add personnel to track the kits, counsel victims and investigate when DNA from the…