Christopher Ballard Sentenced to 60 Years for Sexual Assault of Children

Christopher Ballard, 28, a former teacher and "guide" at Journey Academy in Centennial, was sentenced to 60 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for sex-based assaults on children, the Parker Police Department said in a Jan. 23, 2026 post. The 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Ballard pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree assault with a sexual basis.

Investigators first learned of abuse after parents reported an incident to Parker Police in March 2024. The inquiry expanded as additional reports came in and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office identified other victims. Journey Academy officials notified police when they learned of the conduct; a school spokesperson said Ballard underwent a full background check before his employment, and school records show he had worked there since 2021.

Court filings and law enforcement releases describe a pattern of abuse across multiple locations. Students and parents told investigators Ballard inappropriately touched students, showed pornography, played strip poker with children, made students run around naked, offered money or candy in exchange for removing clothing or producing videos, and assaulted a minor at a Highlands Ranch church where Ballard served as a youth leader. Named locations include the Journey Academy campus in Centennial, a rural conference center, and private homes in Parker.

The legal outcomes and charge totals vary across public records and reporting. Ballard pleaded guilty to two first-degree assault counts that carry a sexual factor; court records cited by local reporting said those counts were described as first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon in two separate cases and that plea agreements included a stipulated sexual factor basis. A DA statement noted that "a plea agreement was reached that did not include other charges Ballard was facing." Court records show plea deals dropped more than four dozen felony charges, including child sexual exploitation and unlawful sexual contact with a child. Separately, one local report said Ballard had been charged with nearly 24 sexual offenses against 12 child victims at Journey Academy. Those figures differ in public accounts and have not been reconciled in a single charging document released to the public.

23rd Judicial District leaders framed the sentence as protection for the community. "Prisons exist, in part, for teachers and caregivers who violate parents’ trust in them and their obligation to protect our children," said Brauchler. "We will continue our pursuit and aggressive prosecution of those in a position of trust who view our children as objects of lust. If we could have secured more than six decades in prison without re-traumatizing the young victims through a trial in this case, we would have." 23rd Judicial District Chief Deputy District Attorney Danielle Jaramillo added, "This defendant is a monster who abused his position of trust to victimize children. While no sentence can undo the trauma these children endured, the outcome brings a measure of justice and ensures he will never be able to hurt another child."

For Douglas County residents, the case underscores questions about screening and oversight for adults who work with youth and the limits of prosecutorial resolution when plea deals remove some charges from the public docket. Parents and school leaders in Parker, Centennial and Highlands Ranch can expect follow-up from law enforcement and the district attorney as records are finalized; court documents and sentencing orders will determine whether additional penalties such as registration, restitution or lifetime supervision are imposed.