Christian Hanson: Greeley gang member guilty of kidnapping, sex assault, hiring hit man

Larger photo below.

Last night, a Weld County jury found him guilty on six counts for crimes dating back to December of last year. He faces up to life in prison on the sex assault conviction alone. Here are the basics:

According to the Weld County District Attorney's Office, Hanson kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman who was a witness in a previous murder case. The assault was presumably a tactic intended to make her back off -- but she pointed the finger at Hanson anyway, leading to his arrest and jailing on the charges.

But Hanson didn't give up. While in jail, he allegedly asked another gang member, Jesse Rodriguez, to make the woman disappear permanently. That didn't happen because the person with whom Rodriguez met to arrange things was actually an undercover officer.

Look below to see a larger photo of Hanson, Rodriguez's mug shot, plus the aforementioned Weld County DA's office release:

Christian Hanson.

Jesse Rodriguez.

GANG MEMBER FOUND GUILTY OF KIDNAPPING, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SOLICITATION OF MURDER

GREELEY, Colo. -- Following an seven-day jury trial, Christian Hanson (DOB 10/18/1988) of Greeley was convicted last night of six felony counts by a Weld County jury. Hanson was convicted of:

• Second Degree Kidnapping, a class two felony

• Second Degree Kidnapping, a class three felony

• Sexual Assault, a class two felony

• Sexual Assault, a class three felony

• Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder -- After Deliberation, a class two felony

• Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder -- After Deliberation, a class two felony

According to Greeley Police Detectives, on December 7, 2009, Hanson kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman who was a witness in a gang-related murder case in 2009. Prosecutors argued that the sexual assault was an attempt by Hanson to prevent the woman from testifying in the murder trial which is scheduled to begin November 29, 2010. Following the assault, the victim identified Hanson from a photo line-up. Hanson was arrested on December 10, 2009.

While in custody at the Weld County jail, officers learned that Hanson asked fellow gang-member Jesse Rodriguez (DOB 10/20/1989), of Greeley, to arrange for the sexual assault victim to be killed. Rodriguez allegedly met with an undercover officer to arrange the murder. Rodriquez has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder and Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder, both class two felonies. Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court on December 22, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. for a Pre-Trial Readiness Conference; his Jury Trial is scheduled to begin on January 10, 2011.

Jesse Arispe (DOB 10/18/1989), also of Greeley, was allegedly with Hanson during the kidnapping and sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 17, 2010, for a review.

Hanson, who faces a maximum of life in prison on the Sexual Assault charges alone, will be sentenced on January 6, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Division 16.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wrenn and Deputy District Attorney Anthea Carrasco represented the People of the State of Colorado in this case.

More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Top Colorado Crimes mug shots of 2009."