VAIL — An Avon man faces life in prison for an alleged sexual assault earlier this week.
Vail police arrested Ian Michael Katz, 39, of Avon following an early-morning Tuesday encounter with a woman in a Lionshead condo.
Baker made his first court appearance Wednesday and is charged with sexual intrusion and penetration of a victim who was not able to know what was happening. That’s a Class 3 felony. Katz has no previous criminal record.
According to police
The alleged victim told Vail police she met Katz at a Vail hotel bar. She left between 10:30 p.m. and midnight Monday and invited him back to the Lionshead condominium she was sharing with friends for the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
She told Vail police that Katz sexually assaulted her, but was interrupted by her roommates and chased from the condo, according to the Vail Police Department arrest affidavit.
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That affidavit says the woman woke up about 3 a.m. Tuesday with Katz on top of her, trying to pry her legs apart.
The others in the condo “intervened to stop the assault,” the arrest affidavit says.
Vail police arrived at the scene and after their initial investigation contacted Katz, who turned himself in. He was transferred to the Eagle County jail late Tuesday afternoon.
First court appearance
During Katz’ initial court appearance Wednesday, the alleged victim was on the phone, listening to the hearing. Judge Olguin-Fresquez set Baker’s bond at $15,000, the maximum allowed by law, and issued a restraining order requiring Baker to stay away from the alleged victim.
Judge Olguin-Fresquez then asked if the alleged victim wanted to say anything to the court. She did.
“I am totally traumatized by this. I never want to see this person again for the rest of my life,” she said tearfully over the phone.
Assistant District Attorney Heidi McCollum asked for the maximum bond, $15,000, while Katz’ court-appointed attorney Everett Pritchard asked for $10,000 bond. Judge Olguin-Fresquez, citing public safety, set Baker’s bond at $15,000.
“The allegations are incredibly disturbing,” McCollum said. “According to the admissions from the defendant, he wanted to (have intercourse with) her, and that he used physical force to pry her legs apart so he could penetrate her.”
Katz has lived in Avon for two years and works as a server in a Vail hotel. He posted the $15,000 bond and is not in custody.
Katz is back in court at 1:30 p.m., Feb. 4 when prosecutors will file their final charges.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
