DENVER - A former Denver police officer convicted of
kidnapping and sexual assault of a female arrestee has been sentenced to eight
years in prison but the judge has allowed him to be free on bond while he
appeals his conviction.
The Denver district attorney's office appeared shocked with
the judge's decision on Friday, Tweeting "WOW, Judge in (Hector) Paez case
grants him a bond while he appeals his conviction - bond set at $100,000 cash
bond." Prosecutors accused Paez, 33, of driving the woman to a secluded
spot and forcing her to perform oral sex in exchange for not being taken to
jail.
When Paez picked up the woman on May 16, 2010, she had an
outstanding warrant for her arrest.Paez claimed that he took the woman to a
secluded location to question her about a drug dealer. The woman has a criminal
history that includes drug use and a prostitution conviction. Paez was
convicted in December but is appealing the conviction. Paez was also sentenced Friday to 10 years to
life of sex offender probation. Paez was hired by the Denver Police Department
in 2006. He was a patrol officer in District 4 but was dismissed last week..