New sex assault charge for Colo. slaying suspect

A teen accused of kidnapping and killing a 10-year-old Colorado girl now faces an additional sexual assault charge.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that they’ve charged 17-year-old Austin Sigg with using physical force and threats to sexually assault 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. They’ve also tweaked the language of charges previously filed in Jessica’s disappearance and slaying in October. She was abducted as she walked to school in the Denver suburb of Westminster.

Jessica’s father and other relatives live in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Mo.

Sigg is also accused of attacking a 22-year-old woman in Jessica’s neighborhood in May. She escaped.

The judge in the case said Wednesday he would bar the public and the media from a preliminary hearing for Sigg, saying he wanted to avoid influencing any potential jurors if Sigg’s case goes to trial.