http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B96698CAEBC4250118D89DE1838ED2D4?diaryId=749
Flamed Out GOP Star Arrested For Child Sex Assault
Sep 29, 2006 -- 3:35 PM MDT
Randal D. "Randy" Ankeney, the convicted sex offender who just a few
short years ago was a rising GOP star in Colorado, is being held on a
$1 million bond in Larimer County.
Ankeney, 35, who was arrested Wednesday, is facing five counts of
sexual assault on a child, three counts of sexual enticement of a
child and one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The felonies,
if he is convicted, could send him to prison for life.
The charges come less than 15 months after the former attorney, head
of Gov. Bill Owens’ economic development office in Colorado Springs
and graduate of the Republican Leadership Program, was released from
prison after serving a two-year sentence for attempted sexual assault
on a child.
At the time of his first arrest, in 2001, Ankeney was serving as the
El Paso County co-chairman of Owens’ reelection campaign and was being
groomed for a seat in the state legislature. His network of
connections ranged from Bill Hybl, the powerful chairman of the El
Pomar Foundation and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to
Colorado Springs developer and school voucher advocate Steve Schuck,
to current state Sen. Andy McElhaney and state Rep. Bill Cadman.
Former friends liked to point out that Ankeney was so committed to the
Republican Party that he named his dogs Reagan and Nixon.
One of 40 graduates of the prestigious Republican Leadership Program
in 1996, Ankeney's classmates included state Rep. Cadman, as well as
Mark Hillman, who is currently running for state treasurer, and Sean
Tonner, former deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Owens and founder of
Phase Line Strategies, a Denver-based political consulting firm. On
Friday, Cadman and Hillman could not be reached; Tonner did not return
a phone call seeking comment.
When he was first arrested in 2001, Ankeney resigned his
$63,000-a-year economic development post. At the time, Hybl said he
was “shocked.” Owens’ then-spokesman, ***** Wadhams, reported "the
governor is sickened by the charges."
But, as detailed in the Aug. 30, 2001 Colorado Springs Independent,
numerous other Republicans attempted to distance themselves from
Ankeney when queried about their relationship with him.
In the case, Ankeney, then 30, was accused of picking up a 13-year old
girl up after he had met her on the Internet using the moniker
“coloradofella.” The girl told police he took her to his home, in
central Colorado Springs, got her drunk and stoned on marijuana,
convinced her to take off her shirt and took photographs of her. When
she passed out on the couch, she awoke to found Ankeney on top of her,
kissing and fondling her. The girl told police that she feared Ankeney
would rape her, but that he eventually let her up, apologized and told
her that if she told anyone about the episode "he would ruin her
life."
He then dropped her off near a Wendy’s fast food restaurant, in the
middle of the night.
Ankeney was later slapped with additional felony charges after a
17-year-old girl came forward, claiming Ankeney had sexually assaulted
her while the two were working on a political campaign. Eventually,
Ankeney pled to attempted sexual assault on a child.
In addition to jail time, Ankeney’s license to practice law was
suspended for three years — which expired on Sept. 22, just five days
before his latest arrest. John Gleason, regulation director of
Colorado Supreme Court, said this week that Ankeney has not applied to
have his law license reinstated.
The details of the most recent allegations against Ankeney, who has
been living in Highlands Ranch with a girlfriend, have not been
released. In an interview, Douglas County Sheriff spokeswoman Kim
Castellano said the search warrant, arrest warrant and booking records
have been sealed at the request of the investigator because the
investigation is ongoing.
Colorado Confidential has learned, however, that the Colorado Bureau
of Investigation, along with sheriff’s officers, executed a search
warrant at Ankeney’s home on Wednesday, Sept. 27. After his arrest, he
was transported to Larimer County, where the alleged incidents
occurred. He is being held at the detention center in Fort Collins,
awaiting an Oct. 5 hearing.
After his first release, Ankeney worked at a Highlands Ranch auto
dealership until about six months ago. It is unclear whether he has
held a job since, and there is no indication that he has recently been
involved in politics.
Gleason says that if Ankeney is convicted on the latest charges, the
Supreme Court will likely take steps to permanently disbar him.
.
|
