Neighbors Shaken After Air Force Staff Sergeant Suspected As Serial Rapist
By Tom Mustin
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - An Air Force staff sergeant is suspected in numerous sex assaults across the Front Range with cases pending in Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs.
Residents in Colorado Springs are still shaken after the arrest of their neighbor -- Air Force Staff Sgt. Desmond Alvis Martin.
"Shock, surprise," neighbor Rick Peil told CB4's Tom Mustin. "We only found out when five cops showed up."
Martin is accused in a string of violent sexual assaults -- three in Colorado Springs in 2015, and one in Aurora this year. He's also being investigated for additional assaults Colorado Springs and Denver. In several cases a weapon was used to subdue the victim.
"I'm glad he's behind bars now," said neighbor Ryan Sullivan.
Neighbors say Martin, 30, lived with a woman and kept to himself. Sullivan told Mustin the serial sexual assaults, and the fact that Martin lived next to several families and a school, are disturbing.
"It's really scary to know in any neighborhood that someone that close could be doing the sort of thing he's accused of. Across the street from a school makes it even more scary," Sullivan said.
The arrest came in February at Peterson Air Force Base where Martin has been assigned. The investigation involved Aurora and Denver police, along with Colorado Springs police, the Air Force and the FBI. Authorities believe there may be more victims.
"That's something obviously we're very concerned about," said Detective Sgt. John Koch with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Now, with the possibility of more women coming forward, Sullivan says he and his neighbors are grateful that Martin is behind bars.
"I'm sure everyone is pretty frightened at the thought this could be happening, and not even know," he said.
Martin is being held on a $2 million bond at the Criminal Justice Center in Colorado Springs.
Additional Information
CSPD, APD, DPD, AFOSI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are actively pursuing additional leads regarding these or any additional incidents involving Mr. Martin. Persons with any information are asked to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at #719-444-7000. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can contact Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at #719-634-STOP.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
