Woman questions judge's 45-day sentence for man accused of sexually assaulting her

Earlier this month, Denver District Court Judge John Madden released Jared Bates from jail on time served after sentencing him to 45 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a woman who was incapable of giving consent, according to KUSA and KDVR.

In court records obtained by KUSA, police said Bates sexually assaulted Maria Crow on June 23, 2018, while she was unconscious at her apartment.

"I don't want another girl to have to go through this," Crow told the news station. "I don't want another girl to have to endure the pain and embarrassment."

KDVR reported Crow was drinking with Bates when she blacked out. The news station reported her brother, Michael Crow, walked in after the assault to find his sister not breathing and unconscious as Bates stood over her with a knife. He called police and Bates was arrested a short time later on suspicion of six charges, including sexual assault of a helpless victim, KDVR reported.

"I had DNA on my clothes. I had DNA on my face," Maria Crow told the news station. "I had residue all over my body. My pants were down."

Bates told authorities he had consensual sex with Crow, but she told KUSA it was not consensual.

"No one knows this man," she told the news station. "No one knows his name, and I want it out there. I want women to see this guy and know that they need to stay away from him."

In a statement released to KUSA, officials with the Denver District Attorney's Office said prosecutors negotiated a plea deal with Bates, with Crow's approval, that called for him to serve up to three years in prison. KDVR reported he was also required as part of the deal to register as a sex offender and to complete five years of probation.

"At sentencing, we requested a three-year prison sentence," officials with the Denver District Attorney's Office said in the statement.

It was not immediately clear why Madden sentenced Bates to 45 days imprisonment instead of the amount requested by prosecutors. A spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Department told KDVR that Madden is prohibited under the Judicial Code of Conduct from discussing cases.