A registered sex offender who sexually assaulted a 59-year-old woman in her home last June was sentenced to 40 years in prison earlier this week in Jefferson County District Court.
Ryan Ray Iliff pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to kidnapping with sexual assault; attempted sexual assault and first-degree criminal trespass.
In the hours prior to the early-morning assault, the 23-year-old Iliff got drunk following a fight with his girlfriend.
Iliff then drove into a residential neighborhood in south Jefferson County carrying duct tape and rope in a backpack.
Iliff failed to get into the first home he tried to invade: He pried out window screens, cut the phone line and attempted unsuccessfully to pry the metal security bar out of the track of a sliding glass door.
He went next door and was able to get in. Inside the second home, the woman awoke to find Iliff with his hand over her mouth. He sexually assaulted the victim and then ran from the home.
The victim immediately called 911 and was careful not to disturb any evidence left by her assailant, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
As a result, investigators from the sheriff’s department were able to find three fingerprints left by Iliff at the scene. They were able to match one to prints taken from Iliff in a prior arrest.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey praised the woman in a statement: “The victim in the case showed extraordinary courage,” said Storey. “She has serious health issues that have been exacerbated by the trauma of the sexual assault. In this case, with her full agreement, we let the defendant plead guilty to avoid going to trial and having to put the victim through the difficult process.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
