Steven Lee Hill: DNA hit leads to charge for 2007 sex assault on 59-year-old woman

DNA may not be forever, but it can survive long enough to prompt charges for years-old crimes -- like, for instance, the one that just gob-smacked Steven Lee Hill. He's now been accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old woman along an East Mississippi bike path back in 2007 -- a...

By Michael Roberts

March 25, 2011

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DNA may not be forever, but it can survive long enough to prompt charges for years-old crimes -- like, for instance, the one that just gob-smacked Steven Lee Hill. He's now been accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old woman along an East Mississippi bike path back in 2007 -- a crime for which he wasn't a suspect until a DNA hit.

Below, get details from the Denver District Attorney's Office and see a larger version of Hill's booking photo:

Denver District Attorney's Office release:

MAN CHARGED IN 07 ASSAULT CASE

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged a man accused of committing unlawful sexual contact in 2007.

Steven Lee Hill (dob: 06-09-86) is charged with unlawful sexual contact (F4).

The charge alleges that on August 30, 2007, Hill grabbed a 59-year-old woman who was walking along a bike path in the 9000 block of east Mississippi Avenue. The victim was able to get away and ran for help. Although a suspect was not identified at the time, DNA left on the victim's clothing resulted in a CODIS match earlier this year and Hill was identified as a suspect.

Hill is currently in custody in the Adams County Jail on an unrelated case and is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2100 on April 6th, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. to be formally advised of the charge.

More from our Coloradao Crimes archive: "Patricia Louise Smith and Bennett family 1984 murders: DNA evidence points to same killer."

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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