Sex Assault Prevention Director: Dating Apps No More Dangerous -- Or Safe
DENVER (CBS4) - A Denver man has been arrested and charged with sexual assault after investigators say he used the dating app Tinder to connect with a woman and then rape her.
According to the Denver District Attorney's office, Brett Sisman, 31, sexually assaulted a woman at his southeast Denver apartment last month. The woman told investigators the two met on the app and exchanged messages before deciding to meet at a LoDo bar.
The woman reported feeling dizzy and woozy before going back to Sisman's home. There, she told investigators he bit her arm and forced himself on her. She believes Sisman drugged her.
"It was not consensual in any way and as soon as she was able to leave reported to police," said Lynn Kimbrough, a spokesperson for the Denver District Attorney's Office.
Sisman has been formally charged with one count of sexual assault, a Class 3 felony. He is out on $50,000 bond and is due back in court next month.
Last year, Darren Auger was arrested and charged under similar circumstances. Investigators alleged Auger used Tinder to connect with and sexually assault a 22-year-old woman in Denver. Court records indicate he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, a misdemeanor, in the case.
"The prevalence of sexual assault is so high that it's not surprising, it's unfortunate that this continues to happen," said Jacquie Aamodt, a director at The Blue Bench, Denver's sexual assault prevention and care center.
Aamodt says dating apps, like Tinder, are no more dangerous or safe than other ways of meeting.
"Offenders can find victims in many different ways, that's part of the skills of the offender, knowing how to find different victims," she said. "The onus really needs to be placed on changing the culture and holding the offender accountable."
She says empowering bystanders to speak up can be an important way to prevent sexual assault. The Blue Bench also works to support victims and their loved ones.
Additional Information From The Blue Bench
If you or a loved one have been impacted by sexual assault and are seeking support, contact our hotline at 303-322-7273.
LINK: The Blue Bench
Lauren DiSpirito reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. She covers breaking news and feature stories along Colorado's Front Range. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.