The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Denver minister was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a minor over time.
On July 6, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a sexual assault report. Hours later, deputies said Elliot Merskin, 46, had been arrested.
Deputies say Merskin was a minister at The River Church in Denver and lived in Highlands Ranch.
According to deputies, he was found guilty on February 27 of two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 15 by a person of trust. They claimed that prosecutors were able to show that the assaults were part of a larger pattern of abuse.
Deputies said if Merskin was released, he would be sentenced to 20 years to life on both counts.
Reference: Denver minister sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for sexual assault of a minor