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Bayfield sex offender gets 9 years in prison

Judge also sentences man to 12 years of probation
Tyner

A Bayfield man was sentenced Monday to nine years prison for sexual assault.

Bryan Tyner, 39, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of attempted sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. He also received 12 years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit tampering with a witness and one count of tampering with a witness or a victim.

More specifically, he admitted to putting pressure on a victim, through other people, to drop the case. But the victim remained committed to pursuing charges, said Christian Champagne, assistant district attorney.

“What he did to me, there will always be scars,” the victim said Monday in court. She said she has forgiven Tyner for his crimes.

Judge Suzanne Carlson of the 6th Judicial District lauded the victim’s courage.

“You are amazing. I hope people are telling you that,” she said to the victim.

Carlson went on to say that Tyner did not have a previous criminal history, and that is why he is not going to prison for the rest of his life.

Tyner was arrested in March 2014 after one of his victims came forward after years of sexual abuse.

The victim “described it tearfully and with great detail,” Champagne said.

Tyner admitted to sexually abusing two female victims early in the investigation, according to the arrest affidavit. But he later denied it, and he did not express remorse for his crimes, Champagne said. This raises questions about his ability to be rehabilitated and become a safe member of the community, Champagne said.

However, public defense attorney John Moran argued that his client’s willingness to enter a plea deal spoke to his efforts to prevent more harm.

“He comes before your honor a broken human being,” Moran said.

Before sentencing Tyner to nine years in prison, Carlson said she doesn’t believe the community can be protected from Tyner.

Tyner will also have to register as a sex offender and pay the victim restitution for therapy, but an amount was not readily available at the hearing.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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