Grand Junction Man’s 204-Year Sentence For Child Abuse Upheld

David A. Releford of Grand Junction was sentenced to 204 years in prison for the 2014 conviction he received as a result of being found guilty of 27 counts of child abuse.

The incidents occurred in 2011 with children who were 7 and 8 at the time of the abuse and the charges included one count of second degree kidnapping, 11 counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual assault on a child as a pattern of abuse, 11 counts of sexual assault on a child in a position of trust as well as additional abuse charges.

Relaford was seeking to have the sentence reduced due to his charge of ineffective counsel, but was denied by a panel of three judges. Relaford based his argument on the prosecutor's repeatedly stating he was guilty, when, in fact, the prosecutor merely stated the jury needed to find him guilty. An additional appeal for allowing evidence that was not present in the home was also denied.

Relaford is serving his sentence at the Sterling Correctional Facility in Sterling, Colorado and is not eligible for parole until 2201.