Legally Reviewed by Shazam Kianpour on August 11, 2026
Colorado significantly increased sentencing exposure for certain sex offenses in the 1990s, and some of those changes mean a person convicted of specific offenses can face a sentence of life in prison. Critics of the current sentencing scheme have long argued that the framework sometimes produces outcomes that are difficult to reconcile with the facts of an individual case.
One case that drew public attention involved a wrestling coach at a Colorado high school who was found guilty of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, with a separate trial pending involving a different student. Consistent with our practice, we have not published the names of any victims connected to this case.
According to reporting at the time, the defendant, a man in his twenties who had worked as a teacher, admitted to inappropriate text communication with at least one student but maintained that the contact never became physical. The jury found him guilty of the underlying sex assault charge as well as the enhanced charge involving a pattern of abuse by someone in a position of trust, the combination that carries the possibility of a life sentence under Colorado law. Jurors reportedly asked the judge whether they could convict on the lesser charge alone without finding a pattern of abuse, and the judge’s answer was no.
How Colorado’s “Position of Trust” Enhancement Increases Sentencing Exposure
Colorado Revised Statute § 18-3-405.3 applies when the person accused of a sex offense against a child held a position of trust with that child, such as a teacher, coach, or caregiver. The enhancement exists because lawmakers viewed the abuse of that kind of relationship as more serious than the underlying offense on its own. When prosecutors can also show a pattern of abuse involving more than one incident, the potential sentence increases again, and in some circumstances the statute authorizes an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term and no fixed maximum.
Our position of trust page breaks down how these enhancements work, including what prosecutors must prove beyond the underlying sex assault charge itself.
Why the Specific Charges Filed Determine the Sentence a Person Is Facing
The gap between a standard sex assault charge and one enhanced by a position of trust finding, and further enhanced by an alleged pattern of abuse, can be the difference between a determinate prison sentence and a sentence with no defined end date. This is why the specific language of the charges filed against a defendant matters as much as the underlying allegations. A defense built around the elements the prosecution must actually prove, rather than the allegations alone, is essential in a case carrying this level of exposure.
If You Are Facing a Sex Crime Charge Involving a Position of Trust
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, our attorneys have defended clients against sex crime allegations throughout Colorado for decades, including cases involving position of trust and pattern of abuse enhancements. We scrutinize every element the prosecution must prove before a conviction, let alone an enhanced sentence, can stand.
If you or someone you love is facing a sex crime charge in Colorado, reach out through our confidential contact form as soon as possible. We offer free initial consultations and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Source
Camera: “Ex-Broomfield teacher Travis Masse guilty of sex assault, faces life in prison,” John Aguilar, 3 May 2011
Frequently Asked Questions About Position of Trust Sex Crime Charges in Colorado
What does “position of trust” mean under Colorado sex crime law?
It refers to a relationship in which the accused had responsibility for the supervision or welfare of a child, such as a teacher, coach, religious leader, or caregiver. When that relationship applies, Colorado law allows for an enhanced charge and sentence beyond the underlying sex assault offense.
Can a position of trust charge lead to a life sentence in Colorado?
It can, particularly when the charge also includes an alleged pattern of abuse involving more than one incident. Colorado’s sentencing scheme for these combined enhancements allows for an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term and no fixed maximum.
What has to be proven for a pattern of abuse enhancement?
Prosecutors must show more than one incident of sexual contact or assault involving the same defendant and victim, or in some cases the same defendant and multiple victims, rather than a single isolated incident.
Why does the specific wording of the charges matter in these cases?
Each element prosecutors include in a charge, such as position of trust or pattern of abuse, has to be proven separately. A defense that challenges whether the state can actually prove each of those elements can affect the entire sentencing range a person is facing.
About the Attorney
Founding Attorney
Shazam Kianpour is the founding attorney of Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. He earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2004, was admitted to the Colorado Bar the same year, and began his career as a Deputy State Public Defender before founding his own Denver based criminal defense practice.
Written by
Shazam KianpourDenver Criminal Defense Attorney & Founder, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. — Over 10,000 criminal and traffic cases handled across Colorado.