A Durango man suspected of kidnapping and raping a woman said he helped save the woman’s life, not put it in jeopardy, according to a videotaped interview he did with police.
The video was played Wednesday in 6th Judicial District Court during a motions hearing for Jason Ray Hansen, 42, who is charged with theft, menacing, burglary, kidnapping and sexual assault, among other offenses.
He faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted of felony sexual assault.
He is being held at the La Plata County jail on $250,000 bail.
Hansen is suspected of forcing a woman into her apartment at knifepoint, punching her repeatedly, ordering her to cook steaks and hitting her when the steaks didn’t turn out the way he wanted them, according to an arrest affidavit.
He also ordered the woman to take a shower and sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said.
The woman, who had a restraining order against Hansen, escaped his control the next day. She had a swollen left eye and bruises to her face, arms and scalp, police said.
The incident occurred late April 22 and early April 23 in Durango.
Durango Police Department Officer Tim Swank testified Wednesday that Hansen took off running when police tried to arrest him May 7 on a felony warrant. Swank said Hansen was taken into custody while trying to climb a fence.
Hansen agreed to speak with Detective Trisha Hutchens during a videotaped interview on the day of his arrest.
During the interview, Hansen denied kidnapping the woman or sexually assaulting her. He seemed shocked by the allegation of sexual assault, saying he is incapable of doing such a thing.
“I swear to God there was no sexual assault,” he said.
Hansen said the woman was trying to stab herself with a fork, and he stopped her from hurting herself. They “made love” that night, he said, and she began to cry and asked him to stop, which he did.
The investigator said the woman appeared very beaten up for someone who hadn’t been assaulted, and Hansen again said the woman was trying to hurt herself.
Public defense lawyer Justin Bogan sought to suppress the video – or keep it from being viewed by a jury – saying Hansen had asked about contacting his lawyer before and during the interview but no efforts were made to contact his attorney.
District Judge Jeffrey Wilson denied the motion, saying Hansen did not make a clear indication he wanted to be represented by counsel.
Hansen signed a waiver of his Miranda rights.
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