1999 Rape Of Pregnant Woman: Denver Man Sentenced to 16 Years

DENVER, CO -- A Denver man convicted of sexually assaulted a pregnant woman in 1999 was sentenced to 16 years in prison Friday. After being arrested in 2016 following an investigation from Denver's Cold Case Project, Roberto Valenzuela, 62, was charged in September 2016 with kidnapping and sexual assault. He pleaded guilty in August, 2017 to second degree assault and attempted first-degree sexual assault.

Prosecutors said that in November 1999 Valenzuela offered a ride to the victim, who was five months pregnant. He drove her to a church parking lot and hit her in the face and sexually assaulted her in his car. He then transported her to a second location where he committed a second sexual assault. The victim managed to escape later when Valenzuela stopped at a stop sign. The victim had been out walking that night after having a fight with her boyfriend.

He was sentenced in Denver District Court Friday to 16 years in prison, three years mandatory parole for the assault conviction, and three years in prison, two years mandatory parole for the attempted assault conviction. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Image Roberto Valenzuela via Denver District Attorney's Office.