More Victims Coming Forward as Douglas County Tackles Growing Sex Crime Caseload

By Allie Jennerjahn | Denver7

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District George Brauchler is speaking out about a surge in sex crime cases and why he thinks there’s an increase.

Sex crimes can range from internet crimes against children, to adult sex assault and Brauchler said the county is working to find a solution.

“It’s unclear to me if we’re seeing an incredible uptick in it, or if because this jurisdiction that has invested so heavily in public safety, including creating subject matter experts in rape cases … if that, in and of itself, hasn’t caused an increase in the number of cases filed,” Brauchler said.

In Douglas County, just one county in the 23^rd Judicial District, Brauchler said his team is prosecuting five separate public school teachers for sex crimes.

“That’s unheard of in my time in the job here. Look, I’ve only been prosecuting for 30 years, and every once in a while you’d come across a teacher. We’re now at five, at this moment in time,” Brauchler explained. “We’ve got Ranch View Middle School. We have Douglas County High School right across here. We have STEM where Kendrick Castillo died. We have a school out in Roxboro, and we have Rock Canyon High School.”

He attributes some of the success in finding those cases to victims speaking out at younger ages.

“Combine that with the mandatory reporter statutes that we have, and we have access now to a whole bunch of people that are doing bad things that previously have never been held accountable,” Brauchler said.

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