Colorado – A former Westminster police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Broomfield while on duty pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor charges of unlawful sexual contact and official misconduct.
Curtis Arganbright, 41, originally was charged with sexual assault using force to obtain submission of the victim, and sexual assault of a person in custody of law by a person in a position of authority. Both are Class 3 felonies.
He is set for sentencing 8:30 a.m. Nov. 29 in the Broomfield County District Court.
The sentence for the unlawful sexual contact is up to two years in jail and up to $5,000 fine and requires registration as a sex offender. Theofficial misconduct charge is up to one year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
Probation also is a possibility.
An arrest warrant for Arganbright was issued Aug. 28, 2017 in connection with an incident involving a 36-year-old woman that took place in the early morning of Aug. 24, 2017.
Arganbright turned himself in to the Broomfield Detention Center and was released later that day on a $20,000 cash surety bond.
Police had been called to the Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave. in Westminster, about a sexual assault that allegedly occurred early the morning of Aug. 24 near West 144th Avenue and Zuni Street.
The woman said she had been accused of stealing items from St. Anthony Hospital during a stay in an emergency room that began Aug. 23, 2017. According to court documents, she admitted herself to the emergency room for alcoholism.
Arganbright was the officer who responded, according to court documents, and ultimately no charges were filed. He agreed to give the woman a ride to her home.
The woman told police Arganbright conducted a “frisk,” where he spent “an extended period of time” in the area between her legs, and said to her “you are liking this,” according to the affidavit.
According to reports, Arganbright initially did not handcuff the woman, for which she thanked him. The woman told police Arganbright pulled over somewhere west of Zuni, where it was dark, and ordered her out of the patrol car.
She told police Arganbright had her pull down her pants, cuffed her and then sexually assaulted her.
Arganbright had been a patrol officer with Westminster since December 2013. Previously, he had worked with Federal Heights Police Department.