GOLDEN, Colo. — A former Jeffco Public Schools paraprofessional has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in her care and introducing "drugs, alcohol, and weapons" to their conversations.
On Friday, Imagine Kay Ewer, 28, was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by 10 years to life on Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Probation, after pleading guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual assault on a child, according to the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Ewer, who worked as a paraprofessional in special needs classrooms at Brady Exploration High School, was arrested in January 2024. According to our news partners at The Denver Post, she was initially charged with child sex assault, sexual exploitation of a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and unlawful electronic sexual communication. All of those charges are felonies.
The charges are in connection with allegations that she sexually assaulted a 16-year-old Brady Exploration School student, whom she had been assigned to work alongside.
The case started in November 2023, when officers with the Lakewood Police Department responded to a report that a teacher had seen inappropriate writing on one of the victim's worksheets. A criminal investigation revealed that Ewer showed favoritism toward the child, and there was evidence of an "inappropriate relationship" beginning around September 2023, the district attorney's office said. Ewer had started working at the school in August of that year.
"Ultimately, the investigation revealed evidence of frequent sexual encounters, constant digital communication, inclusive of repeated derogatory remarks directed at the victim, and the introduction of drugs, alcohol, and weapons," the district attorney's office press release reads.
On Nov. 25, 2024, Ewer pleaded guilty to two charges — contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust — and both parties agreed to a stipulated four years in prison and at least 14 years, but up to life, of probation, according to the district attorney's office. Those two charges are both class 4 felonies. As part of the plea agreement, the other charges were dropped.
The contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge stems from the evidence that showed Ewer introducing the 16-year-old victim to fentanyl and other substances, and their communications about using a firearm, Special Victims Prosecutor Brynn Chase explained. Within the thousands of messages they exchanged, Chase said the defendant said she wanted the victim "to bring a gun to their sexual encounters," and directed the teen to "bring the gun to school and shoot another faculty member in the leg."
Chase argued that some issues in Ewer's background should have "stood out to the school" as red flags. Ewer worked for Jefferson County Public Schools from 2015 to 2023 in positions that included school nurse, paraprofessional and teaching assistant.
"Over the past year, multiple individuals in positions of trust within Jefferson County have been accused and charged with similar offenses," Chase said. "While the school district plays a critical role in addressing and preventing such behavior, the criminal justice system’s ability to offer accountability only comes through collaboration and a common goal of safety.”
RELATED:
- Jeffco Board of Edu intensifying safety measures at schools amid criminal investigation into former employee (Jan. 22, 2025)
- Former employee of Jeffco Public Schools arrested for alleged sexual assault on HS student (Aug. 21, 2024)
- Lakewood middle school staff member accused of inappropriately touching students during school hours (Feb. 19, 2024)
At the sentencing on Friday, the victim's mother addressed the court.
“The defendant preyed on my son, leading him to believe she genuinely cared for him, all while exploiting him for money and manipulating him into thinking he was 'the one,'” she said. “What makes this even more painful is that I trusted the defendant... Had I known what was truly happening, I would never have allowed her such close access to him.”
In court, Ewer apologized to the victim and his family.
Once Ewer is released from prison, she will be subject to a lifetime registration as a sex offender, the district attorney's office said.
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