Jay Bianchi, the former owner of several Grateful Dead-themed bars in Denver, faces serious criminal charges, including sexual assault and drugging.
The case has sparked attention as multiple victims have come forward with disturbing stories of drugging and sexual assault.
Charges Against Jay Bianchi Include Sexual Assault & Drugging
Jay Bianchi now faces eight felony charges related to the incidents that occurred at his bars over the past several years.
These include charges of sexual assault and second-degree assault for allegedly causing unconsciousness through drugging.
The charges cover a period from 2020 to 2024, with the most recent allegations made after his arrest in April 2024.
Following Bianchi's arrest, two more victims came forward to add their experiences to the growing list of allegations.
Some of these allegations include sexual assault, while others involve claims of being drugged at Bianchi's former bars.
The safety of the businesses he operated has been seriously questioned in light of this case.
Investigation Uncovers Drugging Incidents at Two Bars
According to the investigation, several victims claim they were drugged at Bianchi’s two popular bars, Sancho’s Broken Arrow and So Many Roads.
The alleged drugging incidents followed a similar pattern: victims reported feeling extreme confusion and experiencing memory loss after consuming drinks at these locations.
Many of the victims reported waking up in strange places, sometimes with missing clothes or wearing different clothes from the night before.
Denver police have also testified that these victims described large memory gaps, with some recalling only flashes of the night.
One woman, in particular, was found disoriented and confused in the basement of Sancho's, with no recollection of how she ended up there.
The disturbing reports have raised questions about the safety at these bars and the possibility of widespread drugging.
Bianchi’s Denial and Legal Defense
Jay Bianchi insists that he had consensual interactions with the claimed victims, even though the number of victims is increasing.
Bianchi reportedly did not personally supply drugs to any of the victims, so his defense team contends that he never drugged anyone.
Reyna Montoya, a public defense, underlined that there is no direct proof linking Bianchi to the victims' drugging.
Bianchi's legal team argues that the victims' memory of the incidents might have been corrupted, implying that no crimes took place and that the contacts were consensual.
But the police investigators' and victims' accounts point to a more alarming trend of behavior at Bianchi's bars.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps for Bianchi
For Jay Bianchi, the preliminary hearing on November 12, 2024, was a pivotal point in the court procedure.
Judge Clarisse Gonzales decided all eight criminal counts against Bianchi could go forward after considering the evidence and law police testimony.
The judge decided that the case should proceed to trial since there was sufficient probable cause.
Bianchi is supposed to formally face the allegations at his arraignment set for December 12, 2024.
More information might surface as the matter develops, and it is yet to be seen how the court will treat the grave accusations leveled against him.
