Austin Sigg, the 17-year-old charged with the murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, faces two additional charges.
During a court appearance Dec. 12, the court added a charge of sexual assault/sexual penetration and a charge of crime of violence, bringing Sigg’s number of charges to 19.
Sigg was previously charged with 17 counts, including four counts of first-degree murder for the death of Ridgeway, two kidnapping charges, one count of sexual assault on a child and a robbery charge also connected to the Ridgeway murder.
He faces one count of criminal attempt of sexual assault and one count of criminal attempt of kidnapping in connection with the attempted abduction of a woman who was running at Ketner Lake in Westminster May 28. Ridgeway disappeared Oct. 5 while walking to Chelsea Park in Westminster to meet friends before walking to school.
Her body was found days later in the Pattridge Park open space area in Arvada. Police received a call from Sigg’s mother that resulted in his arrest. He is being tried as an adult, and if convicted, could face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
Sigg’s next status hearing is 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, followed by a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22.
First Judicial District Chief Judge Stephen Munsinger ruled that the public, including the media, will not be allowed inside the courtroom during Sigg’s preliminary hearing.
This hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence against Sigg to charge him with Ridgeway’s murder.