An Adams County man first arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman near Nederland while posing as a search and rescue worker was sentenced to 20 years in prison after police uncovered a
William Tidwell, 52, pleaded guilty to human trafficking for sexual servitude, attempted child sex assault, sexual exploitation of a child and second-degree assault, all felonies, the in a news release Wednesday.
Tidwell was after a woman hiking outside Nederland reported he physically and sexually assaulted her after offering her a ride in what appeared to be a search and rescue vehicle.
When served a search warrant at his Northglenn home, they found women believed to be involved in sex trafficking.
Adams County and federal investigators later discovered he lured young women into trafficking by promising stability and support.
“Tidwell maintained a structured environment of fear and submission, where victims were forced to follow strict rules and endure physical and sexual abuse,” the DA’s office said Wednesday.
Investigators also found child sexual abuse material on Tidwell’s devices and that he sought out minors online for “predatory” conversations and tried to “recruit” them.
“This was a calculated predator who built a system of control designed to exploit and abuse young women,” District Attorney Brian Mason said in a statement. “He preyed on vulnerable individuals, using lies, intimidation, and violence to manipulate his victims into submission.”
An attorney for Tidwell could not immediately be reached for comment.
Tidwell pleaded guilty to sexual assault – no consent in the Boulder County case and is set to be sentenced in that case on March 14.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
