Widefield school bus driver arrested on sex abuse allegations
El Paso County detectives have arrested a bus driver for Widefield schools on allegations that he sexually assaulted a young boy a decade ago.
Robert Gordon, 48, was arrested Tuesday and is being held on a $250,000 bond.
Investigators said the accuser is now 23 years old and told them he and Gordon had been engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship when he was about 13. He said he met Gordon at church they both attended in the Security-Widefield area.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the case for more than a year.
According to arrest records, Gordon’s and the child’s relationship started as a friendship and turned sexual. The affidavit says the child would stay overnight at Gordon’s house, sometimes with permission from his mother. It says the two watched porn together, and that led to their sexual relationship.
The records also say Gordon admitted to the sleepovers but said the child came on to him.
Widefield School District 3 has put Gordon administrative leave while the case is investigated.
D-3 spokesman James Drew said Gordon drove a bus route for King Elementary and Widefield High School and was responsible for 156 students. He said Gordan had been with the district for about 5 years and that there was nothing in his criminal past that prevented him from being hired.
Gordon faces the following charges:
• C.R.S. 18-3-405(d)(1) – Sexual Assault on a Child/Pattern of Abuse – A class 3 Felony
• C.R.S. 18-3-405.3 – Sexual Assault on a Child/Position of Trust – A class 3 Felony
• C.R.S. 18-3-405 – Sexual Assault on a Child – A class 4 Felony
“If a person is found not guilty, we can’t hold it against him,” said Kirk Vsetecka Executive Director of Human Resources.
Vsetecka said the Colorado Bureau of Investigation performed a background check on Gordon. The report uncovered child sex assault charges from incidents dating back to 2006. But Gordon was found not guilty.
According to the Colorado Court Database, in 1998, Gordon was convicted on a misdemeanor charge for providing shelter to a runaway child.
“That would have raised serious concerns with Widefield School District 3,” said Vstecka.
But he said that misdemeanor didn’t show up in the CBI search.
The database also shows Gordon was cited for driving with a suspended license.
