A First Judicial District judge sentenced a man to prison nearly two years after he attempted to kidnap two hikers outside of Denver. 

Judge Ryan Loewer sentenced Kerry Endsley, 75, to 35 years in prison on Wednesday for charges of attempted first-degree murder and attempted disarming of a police officer with a crime of violence sentence enhancer following the 2022 incident in Jefferson County, according to a press release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

A man and a woman were hiking on a trail at Fehringer Ranch Park around 8 a.m. on June 17, 2022. As they passed Endsley — disguised in a fake mustache and a FedEx hat and sunglasses — he pulled a firearm and pointed it at them. He then made the duo get on their knees as he placed a dog leash around the woman’s neck. He directed them to go out into the middle of a field, claiming they would die that day.

The woman distracted Endsley while the man grabbed his gun. The two victims ran in opposite directions. 

The woman, who has since moved out of the state to restart her life and declined to be named, said in a letter to the court, “I hope that I can be a strong voice to create more awareness and hope for others while they face their fears and navigate through their recovery and trauma experiences.”

A nearby runner saw the incident and contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy quickly responded.

When the deputy arrived, Endsley charged at him and pulled a stun gun from his pocket, causing the deputy to fire at him. Another deputy eventually tased the suspect, apprehending him.

Deputies found a collection of disturbing items in Endsley’s vehicle, including collars, a mattress, duct tape, knives and power tools.

The suspect claimed to be experiencing a heart attack and was transported to a nearby hospital. While in the hospital, he attempted to reach for a deputy’s gun and punched him in the forehead, according to the news release. 

Endsley pleaded guilty on Jan. 22. He was also resentenced for his 2021 harassment case. The court imposed six months of jail with credit for time served regarding that case.