DENVER (CBS4) – A search is on across the Denver metro area for the defendant in a kidnapping and attempted sex assault trial.
The Denver District Attorney’s office says Clifton Williams, 40, disappeared a few days into his trial.
Williams spoke with CBS4 from within the Denver Jail in August 2011 shortly after he was arrested.
At the time, he claimed he was the victim in the case.
“I guess I’ve been all over the news portrayed as a sexual predator, if you will, which I am not. I am not,” he said in the interview.
Police say Williams attacked a woman on South Broadway. He claims she was a prostitute that stole his money.
Clifton Williams (credit: Denver Police Department)
“I made a mistake by getting high and going to look for sex the wrong way. Someone took that $100 bill from me, and if anything really happened here crime-wise, it’s that,” he told CBS4 in the interview.
Police say surveillance video showing the attack shows bright flashes from a stun gun that Williams allegedly used on the woman in the attack before she ran away.
Clifton Williams (credit: Denver Police Department)
Williams has been out on a $60,000 bond and his trial for the charges began last week in Denver District Court. On Tuesday he never returned to the courtroom after a lunch break.
Williams is described as being 5-foot-8 and weighing 185 pounds. He is now a wanted man who likely faces even more charges.
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.