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Yampa man remains in custody

Resident accused with strangling, sexually assaulting woman

Melinda Dudley

— A Yampa man suspected of strangling and sexually assaulting a woman in a domestic dispute last month remains in Routt County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.

The man, 33, is charged with felony domestic violence charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree sexual assault, as well as a misdemeanor charge of violating a protection order.

The man and the victim have been engaged in a long-standing domestic dispute, Routt County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ken Klinger said last month.



In the month before the Jan. 19 incident, the man was arrested three times on suspicion of violating a restraining order held by the victim.

The man’s case was continued Wednesday in Routt County Court at the request of his public defender, Trevor McFee, who still is awaiting discovery in the case. The man has remained in custody since his Jan. 20 arrest.



The man allegedly assaulted the woman at her Yampa home about 3 a.m. Jan. 19, when police say he tried to strangle the woman with a nylon stocking, force-fed her pills and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious, according to sworn affidavi0ts.

Concern arose for the victim’s welfare when no one had heard from her that day, as she normally checks in every two hours via telephone to confirm her safety in light of the restraining order, according to the affidavits. A friend was sent to check on the woman at her residence and found the woman extremely disoriented and bruised, with both eyes swollen shut and the nylon stocking still around her neck, the affidavits state.

The woman was transported via ambulance to Yampa Valley Medical Center, where she was found to have several facial fractures.

Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested the man at his residence early Jan. 20. Police said he was under the influence of unknown substances and admitted to taking a lot of pills. He was transported to the hospital for treatment, and booked into Routt County Jail later that day.

The man is due to appear in Routt County Court for a status conference at 1 p.m. March 5.

– To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com


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