Teen Found Bound in Neighborhood Yard Leads to Lengthy Prison Sentence for Adams County Defendant

Brighton, CO – District Attorney Brian Mason announces today that Phillip Torres, 44, has been sentenced to 68 years to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections, the maximum allowable sentence under law, following his conviction by an Adams County jury for a series of violent felony offenses committed against a 14-year-old girl. 

In the early morning hours of June 21, 2023, at approximately 4:08 a.m., Thornton Police officers responded to a prowler call in the 9400 block of Lillian Lane. Residents reported an unknown person running outside their windows and hiding near vehicles. 

As officers searched the area on foot, one officer heard muffled sounds coming from between homes. Moments later, officers made a disturbing discovery: a 14-year-old girl bound with tape, rope, and ratchet straps, lying near a parked vehicle in a residential yard. Officers worked urgently for several minutes to cut her free. 

The victim told officers she had been picked up earlier that evening by an adult male driving a white pickup truck. She reported being taken to a nearby home, where she was restrained, held against her will, and sexually assaulted. Despite being bound, the victim managed to escape the residence and attempted to seek help from neighbors before hiding in the yard where officers ultimately found her. 

The victim directed officers to a nearby residence, identifying it as the location where she had been held. She also identified a white pickup truck parked at the home as the vehicle used to transport her. Officers observed the victim’s personal property inside the truck. 

Officers contacted the homeowner, Phillip Torres, who allowed them inside. Torres was advised that officers were investigating a possible kidnapping and that he was a potential suspect. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Torres claimed he had been home all evening with his juvenile son and denied that anyone else had been at the residence. 

The pickup truck was later confirmed to be a company-owned vehicle equipped with GPS tracking. Data provided by the company showed the truck traveled from Colorado Springs to Denver earlier that day, arrived at the Lillian Lane residence in the evening, and made additional trips around Thornton before returning to the home—contradicting Torres’s account. 

The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical care. During subsequent interviews, she reported that she had been staying at a hotel in the Denver area and was approached near a dispensary by a man in a white pickup truck who offered her a ride. She stated she told the man she was a minor. According to the victim, after arriving at the residence, she was given food and alcohol before being taken into a garage area, where she was restrained, held captive, and sexually assaulted. She later escaped and sought help from nearby residents. 

Following a nine-day trial, an Adams County jury convicted Torres on October 9, 2025, finding him guilty of all five charges: 

• Sexual Assault (F2) 

• Second-Degree Kidnapping (F2) 

• Sexual Assault on a Child (F3) 

• First-Degree Assault (F3) 

• Enticement of a Child (F4) 

“This is one of the most abhorrent and frightening cases I’ve seen in my career” said District Attorney Brian Mason. “Phillip Torres kidnapped, tied up and then committed unspeakable acts to a young, innocent and vulnerable victim – sexually assaulting her in a woodshed in his backyard. No words can fully convey the trauma inflicted on this brave victim who, despite her fear, testified against the man who committed these heinous crimes. This verdict and sentence are the result of the tireless work of the Thornton Police Department, my dedicated prosecution team at the DA’s Office, and the courage of the victim who came forward under unimaginable circumstances. I hope this sentence serves as some measure of justice for her.” 

On March 6, 2026, Adams County District Court Judge Sean Finn sentenced Torres to 68 years to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections. 

“This case involved a deeply disturbing crime against a child, and I want to recognize the survivor’s courage and resilience,” said Thornton Police Chief Jim Baird. “I'm also grateful for the dedication and professionalism of our officers and investigators, who handled this case with diligence and compassion. Protecting children and supporting all victims remains one of the Thornton Police Department’s highest priorities.”  

Senior Deputy District Attorneys Natalie Scarpella and Brian McGarry prosecuted the case.