Victim encourages others to speak up after Larimer County prosecutor sentenced

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A woman who was sexually assaulted 25 years ago, when she was a teenage intern, encouraged others to “speak up” after the man who assaulted her  – a former Larimer County deputy district attorney – was sentenced this week.

Daniel Quinn pleaded guilty in September to one count of third-degree sexual assault, stemming from the assault that took place in 1999, when the victim was an intern under his supervision. Quinn worked for the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in the 1990s.

The victim, who does not want to be identified, spoke to 9NEWS about her experience. She said she was 16 years old and a Fort Collins High School sophomore and that she got the internship through a program that matches high school students with employers.

She said she was excited because she had known from a young age that she wanted to be an attorney. She worked mainly in the file room, making copies for attorneys and staff.

“I first met Mr. Quinn when I was asked to run a file to him, while he was in court,” she said. “After that, he came and said thank you to me and left a memento on my desk. It was a little mouse. I had a set of shoes sitting next to my desk, and he put a little mouse in the shoes.”

At first, she was flattered because someone who had power and who had the job she wanted was paying attention to her. Then Quinn took her to lunch and to Horsetooth Reservoir.

“We met up outside of the office, and the inappropriate sexual contact occurred,” she said. “Once that happened, the inappropriate contact occurred while I was in the office.”

Eventually, Quinn resigned, and the victim was fired. She said there was never any police intervention.

“It was never reported,” she said. “I was very confused as a 16- and 17-year-old that maybe the conduct was appropriate. Maybe it was immoral but not illegal. Twenty-two years later, I started attending therapy, and I told her what occurred, and she said absolutely not.”

During the sentencing hearing on Monday, the victim spoke, as did some of her friends. They said they believe her and love her. Quinn’s daughter spoke, saying he is a good dad and grandfather.

Quinn did not speak in court, but his attorney spoke on behalf and said, “He [Quinn] never took this lightly. He always recognized the importance of the severity of what happened here. This is not a one-sided situation.”

The judge in the case said, “There is one victim in this case, and it is not Mr. Quinn.” 

The victim said she encourages others to “speak up.” 

“Don’t feel like you need to keep secrets. Ultimately there is a support group,” she said. “I just had this burden. I had a 16-year-old girl inside of me saying we have to keep this secret, so I shied away from friends, who I was worried they would find out and ask me about it.”