Colorado Springs man arrested in sexual assault cold case

Colorado Springs police earlier this week arrested a man suspected in a sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl back in August 2001.

The 37-year-old man’s bond was set at $50,000 following his arrest on charges of sexual assault on a child and second-degree kidnapping.

He was arrested this past Monday at an unrelated hearing on a domestic violence case in the El Paso County Courthouse.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said it identified the man as a suspect in the alleged sexual assault by using a lab test.

The test was of DNA taken from the girl back in 2001 and of DNA taken from the suspect when he was arrested for felony menacing in August 2011 .

Colorado law now requires anyone arrested for a felony to submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. In the past, only those convicted of felonies were required to submit samples.

The suspect has never been convicted of a felony, CBI officials say.

Law enforcement authorities said the alleged sexual assault happened on August 20, 2001.

A 14-year-old had been walking home from school, she told police at the time, when a man offered her a ride. He then allegedly drove her to an isolated area near Hancock Expressway and South Academy Boulevard. She says he then threatened her with a knife and sexually assaulted her.

At the time, police were unable to identify any suspects or make any arrests.

They say the 2009 law requiring DNA samples made the difference in the investigation that had gone cold.

They say they linked his DNA to the 2001 alleged assault, retested his DNA in November, and then arrested him on Monday.

Source: KRDO: “Arrest Made In 2001 Sex Assault Case,” Scott Harrison, Jan. 30, 2012