UPDATE: Former Casper PD Victim’s Services Coordinator Arrested for Sexual Assault

The former civilian victim services coordinator for the Casper Police Department will remain free on a $10,000 bond he posted Friday after being charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to court documents.

James R. Holscher, 47, was arrested five months after a Natrona County Sheriff's Office investigation determined that he sexually assaulted a woman recuperating from hip surgery at the Garden Square assisted living center, according to the affidavit with the Natrona County Circuit Court.

If convicted, Holscher faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the count of sexual assault, and up to 10 years imprisonment for the count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

He is expected to make his initial appearance to hear the charges against him in circuit court this afternoon. Because both counts are felonies, he will not enter a plea. He will have a preliminary hearing within the next several weeks to determine if his case should be bound over to state district court for trial.

The case began on June 26 when a Casper police officer responded to a call from a woman at Garden Square, 1950 S. Beverly St., regarding a sexual assault by Holscher, according to the affidavit.

Because Holscher was an employee of the City of Casper in the police department, the case was turned over to the sheriff's office.

A sheriff's officer interviewed the woman two weeks later, who said she and Holscher had consensual sexual relations earlier in the year, and then one nonconsensual act on June 13.

That day, Holscher sent her her a message saying, "'I'm going to come rape you,'" and she thought he was talking dirty, according to the affidavit.

He arrived at Garden Square under the guise of having a protection order for her to fill out. He went into her room, closed the door and began trying to penetrate her with his fingers.

She told Holscher to stop because of her medical conditions including two recent hip replacements, multiple back surgeries, learning disabilities, and depression, according to the affidavit. "(The woman) commented that since she had disabilities and was vulnerable, she became an easy target for (Holscher)."

On July 23, the sheriff's officer interviewed Holscher who admitted that he had a sexual relationship with the woman but that it was consensual. He said the woman asked for the protection order documents as a way to get him into the facility. He emphasized that she said no to sex, but not to being masturbated.

The affidavit does not state how Holscher knew the woman, nor for how long.

Casper Police Chief Jim Wetzel said Holscher is no longer employed by Casper PD. The victims services coordinator is not required to be a police officer, but is a civilian employee.

Natrona County Coroner Connie Jacobson said Holscher resigned his position as a deputy coroner with her office a couple of months ago.

Over the years, Holscher was known for organizing victim response teams with the police department, holding seminars on stalking awareness, and participating in events sponsored by the Self-Help Center.

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Tom Morton was responsible for much of the research on this story.