COLORADO SPRINGS — A Colorado Springs-based public defender is facing charges of sexually assaulting a child. Police say Thomas Cushing began exchanging inappropriate messages with a minor on Discord earlier this year.
According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) first learned of this incident on November 1.
Police say they met in person and developed a relationship that her parents eventually learned about and reported. CSPD applied for an arrest warrant for Cushing on November 22 and arrested him on November 23. He was booked into the El Paso County Jail.
Court documents obtained by News5 show the minor ditched school several times to meet with the 26-year-old attorney.
Their message logs indicate she said she was 18 years old, but she is 14 years old. Due to her age, her name will not be released.
In May of 2023, Governor Jared Polis signed "Riley's Law" or SB 23-075, into Colorado law. The law is designed to protect the identities of underage crime victims.
Editor's Note: News5 previously reported that Cushing was a Colorado Springs Public Defender, however, Cushing was an El Paso County Public Defender based in Colorado Springs.
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Cushing's next hearing is in January.
CSPD believes there may be more victims in this case.
If you have any information regarding this incident, you are asked to call CSPD at (719)444-7000. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719)634-7867.
Editor's Note: At KOAA News5, we only use mug shots if there is a community threat, if the crime has a broad impact, or if it will benefit public safety to show, or if there could be other victims (Example: child predators)
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Union workers at King Soopers stores in Pueblo are set to go on strike on Friday
The announcement came from Local 7 President Kim Kordova on Thursday during a news conference, according to Scripps News Denver.
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