More details released in school bus driver sex case

An Antelope Union High School bus driver is accused of having had ongoing sexual relations with a 15-year-old passenger on the bus, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Sixto Rocabado Jr., 31, was arrested Wednesday after the parents of the girl contacted the law enforcement agency on Wednesday to report he had left inappropriate messages on their daughter's MySpace Web page, sheriff's spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher said.

"It is imperative for parents to monitor their children's online activity, and I applaud the parents for doing so in this case," Bratcher said.

MySpace is a popular social interactive Web site that networks friends and offers user-submitted personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos for teenagers and adults internationally.

Investigators following up on the parents' report learned that Rocabado was the female victim’s school bus driver and had allegedly had sexual contact with her over the last few weeks.

Sheriff's investigators arrested Rocabado on suspicion of aggravated assault, custodial interference, kidnapping, sexual abuse and sexual assault.

"The county attorney will review all the evidence and determine what charges should be filed," Bratcher said. "Right now, based on our investigation, we believe kidnapping should be considered."

Antelope Union High School District Superintendent Bob Klee, in a letter released on Friday, said the district was notified by YCSO of Rocabado's arrest toward the end of the school day on Wednesday.

The same letter is also being sent to the parents of all the school's students. It went out Friday morning to school staff, who then read it to the students in their classes.

The letter stated, "Please be assured that the district will be cooperating fully with the sheriff's department and any and all other law enforcement agencies that may become involved in this matter.

"The district has confirmed that it had followed state law requirements relative to the driver's hiring, including conducting fingerprinting and background checks," it read.

It concluded, "The district's transportation department has arranged for another driver to assume responsibility for the bus route at issue. Therefore, there will be no interruption at all in transportation service to the children."

Klee said that the district is asking that any inquiries regarding the matter be directed to his office.

Rocabado is being held in the Yuma County jail on a $239,265 bond.

He was seen in Yuma Justice Court before Yuma Justice of the Peace David Cooper on Thursday instead of Wellton Justice Court as originally reported.

Rocabado's next court appearance will be in Wellton Justice Court before Justice of the Peace Cora Romine.

That hearing will be an arraignment, at which time Rocabado will be informed of any charges filed against him.

Bratcher said investigators have no information leading them to believe the suspect has sexually abused any other students who rode his bus.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.