December 20, 2002

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough,

720-913-9025

WOMAN SENTENCED IN KIDNAP/SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

Melissa Todd (DOB: 4-29-78)

24-year-old Melissa Todd appeared in Denver District Court today, December 20, 2002, for sentencing in connection with a series of kidnappings and sexual assaults that occurred in  2000.  Todd was sentenced to 25 years in prison.  She was given credit for the two years she has been incarcerated so far.  Todd had pleaded guilty earlier to 5 counts of attempted sexual assault and 4 counts of second-degree kidnapping for luring women from Denver's 16th Street Mall and other locations under the pretense of a lingerie party.  She took them to another location where they were sexually assaulted by James Gipson.  Gipson is scheduled to be sentenced for his role in the assaults on February 14, 2003.

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*The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  See Colo. RPC 3.6 ____________