FAIRPLAY, Colo... On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, a Park County jury returned a guilty verdict against Bailey resident Shawn Saylor for assault in the second degree, a statutory crime of violence and domestic violence.

The case stemmed from an incident which occurred on December 22, 2004 when Saylor demanded that his girlfriend for three years leave his house immediately. Saylor's girlfriend was forced to wander the cold streets of the Burland subdivision in search for shelter. In desperation, she returned to Saylor's house and slept on a couch for the night.

The following day, tempers flared once again when Saylor again demanded that she leave his house. Saylor then grabbed her by the shoulder and arm and violently threw her to the floor. When Saylor slammed her head into the floor, he began repeatedly kicking the victim in the face resulting in a broken nose. When the victim attempted to get up, Saylor pulled her by the hair forcing her to the ground again. The victim was able to get out of the house and drove to the Shell service station for napkins to stop the bleeding. The Shell station attendant then called 911.

Deputy Jeff Wood with the Park County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. During his conversations with Saylor, Deputy Wood noticed blood spots on Saylor's shirt. Saylor offered no explanation for whose blood it was, nor for how the blood spots ended up on his shirt.

Deputy Wood submitted the shirt to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for DNA and blood spatter analysis. CBI Agents Schleicher and Griffin testified at the trial that the DNA analysis revealed that the victim's blood was in fact on Saylor's shirt. Furthermore, the blood had been airborne when it was cast onto the shirt with high velocity. The forensic evidence supported the victim's account that she had been assaulted by Saylor.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sean P. Paris. The Defendant was represented by Suzanne MacDonald of Buena Vista. "This case centered around a single piece of evidence," Paris explained. "The bloody shirt and the forensic analysis was able to fully corroborate the victim's account of how the assault occurred." The jury deliberated under an hour before returning its verdict to District Court Judge Barton. Saylor will be sentenced at a later date where he may expect a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to sixteen years. Saylor's bond was immediately revoked and he was taken into custody by a Park County Sheriff's Deputy. Saylor will remain in custody pending sentencing.