Heralded as a hero for impeding an apparent sex assault at the University of Colorado, a Cortez man says he was simply doing the right thing.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that I would do all that I could to stop the attack,” said Max Demby, 22, a 2011 graduate of Montezuma-Cortez High School.

Son to Karla and Brian Demby of Cortez, the senior accounting major was walking home on the Boulder campus in the early morning hours of April 4 when he witnessed a man sexually attacking a fellow student. Demby said the assailant had the woman, who was obviously in peril, pinned against a wall.

“My initial reaction was that I absolutely had to do something to help,” said Demby.

Demby added that he was motivated to intervene because of an unwavering belief that it was the right course of action to take.

“I would never hesitate to help a fellow Buff,” he said.

Surprising the attacker, which police have identified as Andrew Souser, 27, Demby recalled that Souser quickly fled the scene. He then walked the victim, a complete stranger, home.

“She was very emotional,” said Demby.

According to The Denver Post, CU police Deputy Chief Ken Koch called Demby a hero.

“I know he would cringe at that like many of us would, but, bottom line, he interceded in an event that would have ended much worse than it did,” said Koch.

Souser faces felony charges of sexual assault and attempting to influence a public servant along with multiple misdemeanor charges. Boulder authorities believe the suspect could also be involved in other unsolved sexual attacks.

tbaker@cortezjournal.com