The bond for a man accused of tasering a woman, dragging her into a South Broadway alley and attempting to sexually assault was reduced this morning to $60,000.
Clifton Williams, 37, remains in jail. His attorney Ferdnando Freyre argued in court that Williams needs his freedom to gather evidence supporting his defense.
Williams faces felony counts of kidnapping and attempted sex assault.
Police say a 27-year-old woman was walking alone down South Broadway around 1:30 a.m. on July 24 when Williams attacked her from behind with a stun gun.
He allegedly dragged her into an alley with the intent to rape her when she was able to kick herself free, prosecutors said in court.
Williams originally faced $100,000 bond. His girlfriend declined to say after his court hearing whether he would be able to pay the reduced bond.
Williams has a lengthy criminal record stretching back to the late 1990s, including multiple failures to appear for court dates.
Court records show Williams has spent time in prison for felony trespass and burglary. In one of those cases, kidnapping charges were dismissed.
He’s also been arrested on suspicion of theft, domestic violence, unlawfully carrying a weapon and shoplifting, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records.
A few days after police say Williams attacked his victim, another woman walking alone along the Broadway corridor was accosted from behind and escaped, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.
Williams has not been named a suspect in that case, though his beard, height and weight match the second woman’s description of her assailant, Jackson said.
The second case “is still under investigation,” Jackson said. “We haven’t seen a similar suspect or similar type of action since then.”
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
