Ruben Sifuentes, 26(Photo: Thornton PD)
THORNTON – A 26-year-old Aurora man has been taking into custody for allegedly jumping into the back of a
car and sexually assaulting a girl who had just finished a dance class.
News of Ruben Sifuentes’ arrest was announced on Thursday by the Thornton Police Department. The alleged attack happened in the parking lot of a dance studio in the 700 block of West 84th Avenue the evening of Dec. 16.
Sifuentes has been charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault on a child and one count of sexual assault on a child.
Police say the attack happened as an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl got into the back of a car after dance class.
"I looked over and saw him and assumed he was coming for me and yelled at the girls to get in the car and I tried locking them in," their mother, who 9NEWS is only identifying as “Melissa,” said.
She says Sifuentes got into the backseat and started attacking the girls. Melissa says she ran to the side of the car and started to get the girls out. One of them was able to escape right away, and the other kicked the suspect in the shoulder, causing him to run away.
Witnesses told police they saw a man loitering in the area for most of the day.
Sifuentes is being held in the Adams County Detention Facility. He has been there since Dec. 30 for charges related to another case.
He is set to appear in court on Jan. 19 for a preliminary hearing.
(© 2016 KUSA)