Garfield County Detention Center booking photo
A New Castle man has pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and marijuana distribution stemming from an incident at the undeveloped South Canyon hot springs in early February.
Kenneth Hartley, 60, entered the plea before Garfield County District Judge Denise Lynch during a Thursday morning court appearance.
Unlawful sexual contact is a class 1 misdemeanor carrying a possible sentence of up to 24 months in the county jail, completion of sex-offense specific probation and registration as a sex offender.
Hartley was already a registered sex offender from previous violations, according to court records.
The drug count is also a class 1 drug misdemeanor carrying a possible sentence of an additional 18 months in jail. Sentencing is scheduled for the afternoon of Sept. 16 before Judge Lynch.
A 60-year-old man has been arrested for an alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl at the South Canyon hot springs on city property west of Glenwood Springs last weekend.
Glenwood Springs Police were advised of the assault at the natural hot springs, commonly known as the “hot pots,” located just off the South Canyon Road north of the city landfill entrance.
Kenneth Hartley of New Castle was arrested following a police investigation of the Sunday incident on charges including sexual assault against a minor, indecent exposure and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Kenneth Hartley
Garfield County Detention Center photo