Wellton school bus driver sent to prison

The Antelope Union High School bus driver accused of having had ongoing sexual relations with a 15-year-old passenger was sentenced to prison.

Sixto Rocabado Jr., 31, was sentenced on Thursday in Yuma County Superior Court to 1.5 years in prison with credit for time previously served for sexual abuse.  

Rocabado was arrested in late February and ordered held on a  $257,665 bond, which he paid on March 27, and was out of custody.

Rocabado was also sentenced to a term of lifetime probation for an amended count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.

As a result of his convictions, Rocabado must now also register as a sex offender.

Rocabado was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, custodial interference, kidnapping, sexual abuse and sexual assault.

He was later charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping and two counts of sexual abuse. Rocabado plead guilty to the sexual abuse and luring charge in a plea agreement on Aug. 27.

Rocabado was a noncertified employee at Antelope Union High School, where he was a bus driver and assistant wrestling coach.

Rocabado was arrested after the parents of the victim contacted the Yuma County Sheriff's Office earlier the same day to report he had left inappropriate messages on their daughter's MySpace Web page.

Sheriff's office 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 before.