A Thornton man convicted of abducting and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to 68 years to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Phillip Torres, 44, received the maximum term on Friday after an Adams County jury returned guilty verdicts last October. Authorities say the victim escaped a house where she had been held and was later found bound in a nearby yard.
How officers found the victim
Thornton police say officers responding to a prowler call in the 9400 block of Lillian Lane around 4:08 a.m. on June 21, 2023, discovered a 14-year-old girl bound with tape, rope, and ratchet straps in a residential yard. As posted by the Thornton Police Department, officers cut her free, transported her to a hospital and launched an investigation that led them to a nearby home.
Prosecutors: GPS, testimony and conviction
According to a press release from the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors said company GPS data and the victim’s identification of a white pickup truck undercut the suspect’s story and helped place the vehicle at the property. After a nine-day trial, an Adams County jury convicted Torres on Oct. 9, 2025, of five felony counts including sexual assault, second-degree kidnapping and enticement of a child.
Sentence and reaction
On March 6, Adams County District Court Judge Sean Finn imposed a sentence of 68 years to life, the maximum allowed under Colorado law, and ordered Torres to serve his time in the Colorado Department of Corrections. District Attorney Brian Mason called the crime “one of the most abhorrent and frightening cases I’ve seen in my career” and said the verdict reflected both the exhaustive work of investigators and the courage of the victim. Thornton Police Chief Jim Baird praised responding officers for their efforts and publicly recognized the survivor’s resilience in statements released alongside the district attorney’s announcement.
Legal implications
Torres was convicted on counts that carry significant penalties under state law: Sexual Assault (F2), Second-Degree Kidnapping (F2), Sexual Assault on a Child (F3), First-Degree Assault (F3) and Enticement of a Child (F4). The 68-year-to-life sentence is the maximum allowable on the combined terms imposed, and any appeals or post-conviction motions would proceed through Colorado’s courts. Prosecutors and local police said the case underscores their continued focus on investigating and prosecuting violent crimes against children.
