Suspect arrested in crime spree
The Boulder Police Department has arrested a 17-year-old suspect in connection to a string of burglaries and sexual misconduct that occurred in the University Hill neighborhood last weekend.
The suspect, an East Boulder teen, was taken into custody Thursday and is suspected of breaking into three apartments in the University Hill area on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings.
In each of the reported incidents, the victims were collegeage women. A suspect entered the apartments through unlocked windows and doors and performed lewd acts near the victims while they were sleeping. In one instance, the victim awoke to the suspect touching her in a sexual manner.
Detectives worked with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office to file charges against the suspect Friday afternoon. He has been charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of indecent exposure, one count of attempted invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, one count of unlawful sexual contact, and one count of aggravated motor vehicle theft.
“It is likely that the suspect has been involved in other related crimes in the area, and additional charges are likely in the future,” said Boulder Police Department Deputy Chief Stephen Redfearn at a news conference Friday evening.
Police said the suspect was identified when they noticed similarities between the crimes last weekend and to incidents last year in which the same teen was charged with and pleaded guilty to indecent exposure.
“It quickly became clear that
the juvenile suspect in the 2021 cases was likely the suspect in these recent crimes,” Redfearn said.
After the suspect was arrested last year, he was placed on “high level juvenile sex offender” probation. Officers recently placed him under surveillance, and he was taken into custody while at home Thursday evening for violating his probation conditions, which included curfew requirements and parental supervision.
Simultaneously, said Redfearn, a search warrant was executed at the suspect’s home, where evidence linking him to the University Hill crimes was discovered.
Redfearn said the arrest would not have been made as quickly as it was without the assistance of community members.
“We received numerous tips and information from the public that made this arrest possible,” he said.
Since the suspect recently turned 17, he could either be prosecuted as a juvenile or be transferred to adult court based on an evaluation from the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Michael Dougherty said during the news conference.
The suspect is being held without bond at a juvenile detention center. Dougherty said the suspect will likely plead “not guilty” to the charges.
Dougherty thanked the victims for coming forward to help officers identify a suspect in this “terrifying crime spree.”
“It is because of the victims that we are here today, and it is because of their strength and courage that we are able to bring this perpetrator into custody,” Dougherty said.
Even with the suspect’s arrest, the investigation is still “very active and ongoing,” said Boulder Police Department Public Information Officer Dionne Waugh. Police are encouraging any additional victims or witnesses to contact the case’s lead detective, Ashly Flynn, at 303-441-1850.