Jefferson County trail predator sentenced to prison for flashing, groping female hikers

Female hikers had reported multiple instances of a man exposing himself, masturbating and groping them on Jefferson County trails.

Jefferson County trail predator sentenced to prison for flashing, groping female hikers

An Evergreen man was sentenced to at least eight years’ imprisonment Thursday for a pattern of terrorizing women on Jefferson County trails, according to court records and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.

Glenn Thompson Braden IV, 21, was captured by Jefferson County deputies after a string of unwanted sexual encounters on county trails reported by female hikers, who said a man had exposed himself, masturbated in front of them and groped or tried to grope them.

In August 2023, when hikers reported another such incident at Genesee Park near Golden, deputies fanned out through the park and arrested Braden after a foot chase.

Investigators said Braden told them he did not remember much of what happened because he was high on marijuana at the time but said he felt “compelled” to commit the sex crimes, which took place during about a dozen separate incidents between April and August 2023.

Braden was charged with four counts of unlawful sexual contact and one count of attempting to commit sexual assault, all felonies, as well as nine counts of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a petty offense.

In August, he pleaded guilty to one count each of attempting to commit sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact and indecent exposure.

He was sentenced Oct. 17 to eight years to life in Colorado’s Department of Corrections, plus an indeterminate period of parole, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Brionna Boatright wrote in an email.

Braden must also remain registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Boatright said.

Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.