Caretaker Accused Of Sexual Assaulting Disabled Woman Could Have More Victims
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - The number of potential victims in a Western Slope sexual assault case involving a developmentally disabled woman by a former caretaker is growing.
Jose Ignacio Echeverria, 54, of Glenwood Springs, worked as an overnight caretaker at Mountain Valley Developmental Services' group home. It's there at least one resident claims he sexually assaulted her, according to prosecutors.
Investigators have found a second and now possibly a third victim, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Bruce Christensen, the organization's executive director, told the Glenwood Post Independent in an interview on Tuesday that Echeverria, who had no criminal history prior to being hired, worked with six to eight of Mountain Valley's clients. He primarily worked at the Glenwood Springs group home, but he occasionally also worked at its Rifle location on Moki Avenue.
Echeverria is facing two counts of crimes against at-risk adults (sexual assault), both felonies.
"I would hope our organization could take this, see it through to justice for these women," Brenda Scrimsher with Mountain Valley Developmental Services said. "It's definitely traumatizing."
Scrimsher spoke in court on behalf of the three women.
"These three women do not have the capability of standing up in a courtroom and speaking for themselves," she said.
As part of the internal investigation councilors are going back and interviewing every person who may have had contact with the suspect during his employment history.
Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.
