A former El Paso County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Jan. 16 after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges last year.

Dalton Bridges was arrested in January 2023 after investigators say he made unwanted sexual advances toward a woman, and that when she tried to leave, he grabbed her and dragged her back inside a home.

Detectives investigating the case acquired doorbell-security camera footage from the night of the incident and, according to an affidavit, the woman can be heard crying and repeatedly telling Bridges “no, no, no,” and “I don’t want to go in there.” Bridges can be heard yelling “get the (expletive) back inside” before dragging her back inside the house.

The woman told detectives that Bridges forced her to perform sexual acts on him and to have intercourse. When she told him that it hurt and asked him to stop, Bridges told her “I don’t care,” according to the affidavit.

Before the victim reported the incident to law enforcement, Bridges tried to downplay the incident by sending text messages to the victim saying, “You always take it so personally when that’s not the case ever,” the affidavit states.

Bridges pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree kidnapping, a Class 4 felony, and no consent sexual contact, a misdemeanor. The two charges of Class 2 felony kidnapping and felony sexual assault were dismissed with the plea deal.

At Bridges’ sentencing hearing, the victim spoke to the court about how she felt the misdemeanor sexual assault charge didn’t accurately portray what happened that night.

“The words sexual assault don’t convey the pain and horror I felt. … It was rape,” the victim said. “(The charges) don’t paint an accurate picture of what happened to me, or the damages done to me.”

The victim went on to describe her injuries to Judge Amanda Philipps as horrific, stating she suffered vaginal bleeding for three days and had bruises on her neck for more than two weeks, all due to an encounter without consent.

The victim also accused Bridges of having assaulted women before her.

“I am not the only victim to be raped by Dalton Bridges,” the victim said. “I am, however, the only one who was willing to stand up and hold him accountable.”

Bridges briefly spoke to the court before sentencing, saying he made a “poor decision” the evening of the assault and that it does not reflect who he is.

“I am not only eager, but I am looking forward to the road to recovery,” Bridges said.

Philipps was not moved by Bridges’ attempt at accountability. The plea deal saw a stipulated agreement of four years of probation, but a jail sentence was an uncertainty heading into the hearing.

Before issuing the sentence, Philipps said she was concerned with the lack of accountability shown by Bridges both in court, and in the presentencing investigation report filed to the court.

“There was no reflection on how (Bridges’) actions led to what happened,” Philipps said. “Just because consent was withdrawn doesn’t mean you’re less culpable. … It just doesn’t.

“I am worried that Mr. Bridges doesn’t understand he did anything wrong,” Philipps said.

Philipps sentenced Bridges to four years of supervised probation and 30 days of jail.

As Philipps informed the court of the sentence, Bridges’ mother yelled “what?!” out to the court. As the judge continued to read the sentence, Bridges’ mother could be heard muttering quietly.

A spokesperson for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Gazette that Bridges is no longer employed at the department.