Jury Reaches Verdict In Child Sex Assault Case

Michael Adams, a former budget analyst for El Paso County, faces the possibility of life in prison after his conviction for the sexual assault of two female child relatives.

A jury found Adams, 39, guilty Tuesday on all 29 counts against him. The jury also agreed there were grounds to allow for four sentencing enhancers, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The victims attended the trial and hugged family members after the verdict. They were ages 13 and 8 when the assaults began.

“I think they’re very relieved,” said prosecutor Amy Fitch. “For young victims, I think this is always confirmation or affirmation that we heard them, that we know what happened to them.”

Prosecutors said Adams sexually assaulted one child over a period of several years, forced another to be videotaped in a sex act, and threatened to show the images to the girl’s friends if they didn’t keep quiet. The jury also determined Adams inflicted bodily injury on one of his victims.

Charges were child sexual assault, including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, pattern of abuse, aggravated incest and sexual exploitation of a child.

Adams will be sentenced Nov. 1 after undergoing a psychological examination. The jury deliberated only a few hours after getting the case late Monday and returning a verdict around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Prosecutor Andy Bryant said a key piece of evidence in the case was a recording of a phone call made by Adams’ wife to her husband after she caught him committing one of the assaults.

“The defendant never denied any of those things,” said Bryant. “He basically said that he was sick and that he didn’t deserve to be alive.”

Adams was free on bond during the weeklong trial and was promptly taken into custody by deputies after the verdict. He said nothing and showed no emotion.

Adams also faces nine additional counts of child sexual abuse involving a separate victim. That trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 3.