Cripple Creek, CO - Chad Gooch Charged with Sexually Assaulting a Hotel Employee During His Stay at the Gold King Mountain Inn

Hotel Guest Charged With Sexually Assaulting a Hotel Employee

According to KRDO, Chad Gooch is facing charges of sexually assaulting an employee at the Gold King Mountain Inn located at 601 E Galena Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813. 

On August 16, 2021, Chad Gooch is being accused of luring an employee into his hotel room and sexually assaulting her. The victim alleged that she entered his room under the pretense of fixing his television before being forced onto the bed, and the door locked behind her. Gooch allegedly began to choke the victim until she lost consciousness. When she came to, the suspect is being accused of sexually assaulting her in addition to punching her with a closed fist in the head repeatedly as he told her he would kill her. 

The suspect is then accused of making the victim shower and letting her go on the terms that he would claim she did the crime if she told. The victim reported the crime to the police. They found sufficient evidence of assault and rape inside the suspect's room, along with blood on the suspect. 

Gooch was arrested and is currently being held at the Teller County Jail. He is facing multiple felony charges, including:

• second-degree kidnapping
• first-degree assault
• sexual assault
• false imprisonment
• tampering with physical evidence
• unlawful sexual contact
• menacing

Legal Options for Victims Sexually Assaulted in a Hotel

Attorney contributor Dan Lipman, an experienced sexual assault lawyer, has represented many victims of sexual assaults in civil lawsuits. During an interview, Dan provided the following legal commentary regarding the rights of victims sexually assaulted in a hotel.

“Hotel owners have a legal obligation to protect both its guests and staff. Sexual assault in hotels has become an issue of concern for both guests and staff members. These owners should maintain a certain level of security measures to protect those on the hotel premice. Such measures can include proper lighting in common spaces, security cameras, and even panic buttons for the staff. In the event that sufficient security measures were not in place and a crime takes place, the victim could have grounds for a civil lawsuit. A hotel owner can be deemed liable for an assault by a guest if it fails to protect its staff members from sexual misconduct adequately."

"If a crime is considered foreseeable, the property owner could be considered negligent. An example of negligence is if previous sexual assaults have occurred on or around the property, but security was not increased. If a victim’s attorney can prove the sexual assault was a result of the negligence on behalf of the hotel owners, the victim and their family may have ground for a civil lawsuit and could even receive compensation.”

Sources:

KRDO