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Defendant acquitted of rape, kidnapping

Steve LynnVail CO, Colorado

EAGLE – A jury acquitted an Eagle man of kidnapping, raping and choking his ex-girlfriend Friday night, according to the man’s attorney. Lissandro Almaraz, 25, was acquitted of two counts of sexual assault, kidnapping and third-degree assault, all felonies, said defense attorney Ted Hess. A woman, whose name has been withheld, accused Almaraz of abducting her in the Eagle Villa Apartments parking lot Nov. 1, Hess said. The woman contended that Almaraz strangled her and forced her to have oral sex and sexual intercourse, Hess said. The woman had a restraining order against Almaraz, but she continued to contact him for money, baby-sitting and sex, Hess said. Almaraz was convicted of violating a restraining order, a misdemeanor, Hess said. The woman and Almaraz would meet Wednesday nights to have consensual sex in a car, and the rendezvous Nov. 1 was no exception, Hess said. “We were one step short of convicting an innocent man,” Hess said. Almaraz had been in jail since Nov. 2 and may stand trial for two separate incidents involving the woman, Hess said. Almaraz has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor child abuse and will go to trial July 5, Hess said. The woman reported another sexual assault Aug. 21 to Eagle Police, and Almaraz will plead not guilty to that charge, Hess said. Officials from the District Attorney’s Office did not return phone calls seeking comment Sunday. Staff Writer Steve Lynn can be reached at 748-2931 or slynn@vaildaily.com.


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