NEWS RELEASE
May 20, 2014
Contact: Sue Lindsay
Public Information
303-835-5639
Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for String of Thefts Targeting Elderly
Damien Paul Dahmer (DOB 11/04/88) was sentenced to 16 years in prison Tuesday in six cases of home invasion robbery and motor vehicle theft targeting senior citizens.
Dahmer and an associate went to the homes of elderly people they knew asking to use the bathroom or for a drink of water. While there, they would distract the victim with their requests and steal car keys, house keys, wallets and purses. In most of the cases the victims were familiar with them through other neighbors or family members or because the defendants previously had lived in the neighborhood.
In one case, they came to the home of an 82-year-old man in Adams County asking to use the bathroom and stole the man’s keys. After they left, the man went to his backyard to resume his yard work and saw his vehicle was missing from the garage. Later that night, he was awakened at 4 a.m. to find an intruder in his living room stealing his television.
In another case, they went to the home of a 76-year-old Thornton woman asking to use the telephone. Then they burst in and tied the woman up with a phone cord while they ransacked the house looking for cash and jewelry to steal.
Dahmer pleaded guilty on April 3 to theft of an at-risk adult (F3), attempted theft of an at-risk adult (F4), theft of an at-risk adult (F5), first-degree trespass of a dwelling (F5), attempted first-degree trespass of a dwelling (F6) and vehicular eluding (F6).
He had been charged in six cases with three counts of theft of an at-risk adult, one count of robbery of an at-risk adult, one count of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, one count of second-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, second-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault of an at-risk adult, two counts of first-degree trespass and one count of criminal mischief.
“The way he targeted senior citizens was sickening,” Deputy District Attorney Scott Sweeney told the court during the sentencing hearing. He said that the woman who was tied up was so traumatized by the home invasion robbery that she was unable to stay at her home and was terrified every time she heard a knock at the door. “She couldn’t sleep because of the humiliation of being tied up while her personal property was ransacked. It was devastating to her,” Sweeney said.
Adams County District Judge Mark Warner said a lengthy prison term was necessary. “I have to protect the community,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that these individuals took advantage of people they knew and violated their trust to gain entry to their homes and victimize them,” said District Attorney Dave Young. “The defendant did this not once, but multiple times. I hope this sentence sends the message that this conduct will not be tolerated in our community. “
Maryann Faith Martinez (DOB 02-27-86) pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of an at-risk adult and trespass. Her case is set for sentencing July 11 in Division G of Adams County District Court.
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