Man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Months after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at gunpoint, the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce has identi ed and arrested a male suspect, the agency announced June 13 in a news release.

According to the release, on Jan. 7, a woman called the police and said that at approximately 2:30 a.m., while driving on South Alton Street between East Mississippi Avenue and East Florida Avenue, she was agged down by a man she did not know.

She reportedly told police that after the man gained access to the vehicle, he sexually assaulted her at gunpoint, according to the release.

e sheri ’s o ce said that after months of investigating, the investigators identi ed a suspect: Hilton Acker, 32.

With the assistance of the Denver Police Department’s SWAT team and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, investigators took Acker into custody on June 9, per the release.

Deputy John Bartmann, a public information o cer for Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, said via email that the agency, at this time, is not sharing how investigators identied and located Acker.

e sheri ’s o ce noted in its news release that a defendant is “presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” e charge against Acker, as listed on the agency’s website, is “2nd degree kidnapping — adult to sexual assault,” and the total bond is $250,000. e sheri ’s o ce asked that if anyone has information related to this case or knows of any other potential victims, contact investigators by calling (720) 874-3668 or emailing jgagnepain@arapahoegov.com.

Support for sexual assault survivors e Colorado Division of Criminal Justice de nes sexual assault as a crime that “encompasses a wide range of sexual acts perpetrated against an individual without their consent.” e anti-sexual violence organiza- tion Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network notes that the recovery process from sexual assault or abuse looks di erent for each person. ose interested in getting more information and resources can visit rainn.org e organization also operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which o ers con dential, 24/7 support.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50% of women and almost one in three men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetime.

To contact the hotline, call 800656-4673 or visit the online chat hotline at hotline.rainn.org/online.