A former Colorado paraprofessional has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old special education student under her care.
Imagine Ewer, 28, admitted to charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped three additional felony charges and one misdemeanor. After completing her sentence, she will remain under probation in the Sex Offender Intensive Supervision program for 10 years to life.
The victim’s mother delivered a powerful statement in court, expressing her pain and betrayal. “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.
Prosecutors revealed disturbing details about Ewer’s actions, including that she introduced the student to fentanyl and encouraged him to bring a gun to their sexual encounters. She even suggested that he bring the weapon to school and shoot a faculty member, according to Special Victims Prosecutor Brynn Chase.
The abuse came to light in November 2023, when a teacher noticed concerning writing on one of the student’s worksheets and alerted authorities. Investigators discovered that Ewer’s behavior had raised suspicions among staff as early as September 2023. Evidence showed repeated sexual encounters, excessive digital communication, and the introduction of drugs and alcohol into the victim’s life.
Ewer, who had worked in Jefferson County Public Schools since 2015, was arrested in January 2024. At her sentencing, she issued a brief apology, saying, “I just want to apologize to the victim and the victim’s family. I’m really sorry; this will never happen again.”
