A retired Denver police officer has been released after being accused of sexually abusing his daughter, but his ex-wife claims she was arrested for refusing therapy.
Rachel Pickrel-Hawkins says she was sent to jail after refusing to send her two youngest children to court-ordered therapy with their father, former Aurora Police Sgt. Michael Hawkins, 55.
Pickrel-Hawkins was found in contempt of court after she decided not to continue with reunification therapy ordered as part of her divorce proceedings, which began before criminal charges were filed against Hawkins.
She told the Denver Gazette The therapy has been damaging and she accused the therapist of supporting Hawkins’ efforts to gain custody of the children and pressuring them to forgive their father.
Hawkins, who is out on bail, is also accused of sexually assaulting Pickrel-Hawkins’ two older daughters, whom he adopted.
Rachel Pickrel-Hawkins says she was sent to prison after refusing to send her two minor children to court-ordered therapy with their father, who is accused of raping her daughter.
Former Aurora Police Sergeant Michael Hawkins (pictured) is free on bail after being charged with sexually assaulting his daughter and her adopted daughters.
The couple has four children, three of whom are minors, and Hawkins is seeking custody of the two youngest, aged 10 and 13.
Court documents allege Hawkins sexually abused his 17-year-old daughter throughout her childhood, beginning when she was five, and nearly drowned the couple’s oldest son, now 19.
The 19-year-old said Hawkins used police tactics to keep him underwater during a trip to Costa Rica in 2018.
The teenager claims he believed his father was vindictive because he had previously confronted him about seeing his hand inside his sister’s underwear.
Pickrel-Hawkins currently has custody of the minor children, who are living in a domestic violence shelter. She told the Denver Gazette that she has made arrangements for relatives to care for her children while she is in prison.
In addition to sending Pickrel-Hawkins to jail for seven weekends, the judge ordered her to pay the full $370 cost of any sessions her children attend alone and to split the bill with her ex for any sessions she attends.
Pickrel-Hawkins currently has custody of the minor children, who live in a domestic violence shelter.
In addition to sending Pickrel-Hawkins to jail for seven weekends, the judge ordered her to pay the full $370 cost of any sessions her children attend alone and to split the bill with her ex for any sessions he attends.
In his decision, Larimer County District Court Judge Daniel McDonald cast doubt on the allegations against the former police officer.
McDonald wrote on July 6: “The court also notes that no criminal charges have been filed and that the Department of Human Services’ conclusion can be based solely on the child’s statements without corroborating evidence.”
While the judge’s decision came before criminal charges were filed against Hawkins, Pickrel-Hawkins says the judge was aware of the criminal investigation.
Criminal charges were filed against Hawkins later on July 29 after a nearly two-year investigation.
Hawkins was hailed as a hero after being one of the police officers who responded to the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting that left 12 people dead.
In his decision, Larimer County District Court Judge Daniel McDonald cast doubt on the allegations against the former police officer.
Hawkins was charged with six felony counts of sexual assault of a child by a person in a position of trust and a single misdemeanor count of child abuse.
Hawkins was hailed as a hero after being one of the police officers who responded to the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting that left 12 people dead.
Her daughter told investigators she was raped the same year after her father experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.
Criminal charges were filed against Hawkins later on July 29 after a nearly two-year investigation.
Hawkins was in the news in 2017 after a woman accused him and three other officers of stomping on her head after she was falsely accused of assaulting Hawkins.
Hawkins was back in the news in 2017 after a woman accused him and three other officers of stomping on her head after she was falsely accused of assaulting Hawkins.
Aurora paid the woman $335,000 to settle the lawsuit.
Hawkins retired the following year after passing a medical examination fit for duty.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Aurora Police Department for comment on this story.
