Former Larimer County teacher sentenced after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children

A former teacher was sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by 10 years of intensive probation after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting children.

In January 2023, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigators received a report that Robert Denise (d.o.b. 8/29/63) sexually abused a child in the early 2000s. The victim, now an adult, told investigators that the assault occurred when he was a student and Denise was a teacher at Cache La Poudre Junior High (now CLP Middle School). Denise was arrested in April 2023 for Sexual Assault of a Child – Position of Trust (F3). He was placed on leave from school in February 2023 and retired from the Poudre School District in April 2024.

After his arrest was announced, four more victims came forward and reported a similar pattern of abuse that occurred over a two-decade period. The LCSO investigated all of these allegations, resulting in two additional charges of Sexual Assault of a Child – Position of Trust (F3). Two of the victims reported incidents that occurred outside the statute of limitations and did not warrant prosecution. Colorado law has since created avenues for all victims of child sexual assault to pursue civil redress, and there is no criminal statute of limitations for cases that occurred after 1998.

In April 2024, the three sexual assault charges were dropped when Denise agreed to a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child (F3), which would result in a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. On June 20, 2024, Judge Jouard sentenced Denise to 16 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by ten years of intensive sex offender probation. He must also register as a sex offender.

During the sentencing, the victims recounted their experiences with Denise, identifying a pattern of grooming behavior and sexual abuse. They also described the lasting negative impact on their personal relationships and mental health over the decades that followed.

Judge Jouard found that Denise had abused his “considerable influence” as a popular teacher, mentor and authority figure to groom and ultimately victimize victims of assault.

“Sexual abuse and exploitation create a ripple effect of lasting damage that victims struggle with for their entire lives. We trust our educators to look after the best interests of the children in their care, and this man abused that trust in the worst possible way,” said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen.

“Our society does not make it easy for victims of sexual abuse to come forward, especially men and boys. I want to thank the brave people who spoke out in this case. Abusers rely on shame and isolation to continue committing their heinous acts, and your courage has helped others realize they are not alone. Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault. We stand with you and all victims to find justice and healing.”

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the LCSO Victim Advocates and the District Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts to support the individuals and families affected by this case.

Facts about sexual abuse

• Child molesters often use psychological manipulation known as “grooming” behavior to isolate victims and build trust with them, such as through gifts and attention, financial or emotional support, arranging special activities, and sharing secrets. This may be followed by seemingly harmless touching (hugging, wrestling, tickling) and escalate to sexual contact (RAIN). • 93% of victims of sexual violence against children know their abuser (RAIN).
• Nearly one in four men in the United States has experienced some form of sexual violence in his lifetime (CDC).
• Sexual assault is a crime that often goes unreported. Research shows that in 2021, only 22% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement (Office of Justice Statistics).
• Men and boys are the least likely to report. Up to 95% of all male victims of sexual violence remain silent (Washington University).
• It can take years for victims to feel safe enough to disclose after the abuse has ended, especially in cases where the perpetrator was a confidant. Social attitudes, gender stereotypes and culture can also influence a person’s decision to report (RAIN).

Local resources

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, there are support services available in our community:

SAVA Center

https://savacenter.org/

Fort Collins: (970) 472-4204

Loveland: (970) 775-2962

The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center provides crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling for anyone affected by sexual violence in Northern Colorado, and also offers prevention programs through community engagement and education.

Child-safe

https://www.childsafecolorado.org/

970-472-4133

ChildSafe supports children and adults who are victims of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, and their non-abusive family members.

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Crawford Child Protection Center

https://crawfordcac.org/

(970) 407-9739

The CCAC is committed to preventing child maltreatment (particularly physical and sexual abuse) and provides services that help social workers and investigators stop perpetrators, protect victims, and support survivors and families.

Estes Valley Crisis Counselors

https://www.crisisadvocates.org/

Call: (970) 577-9781

Call: (513) 970-3822

Estes Valley Crisis Advocates offers a variety of free and confidential services to survivors of crime and trauma.

SummitStone Health Partner

https://www.summitstonehealth.org/

(970) 494-4200

SummitStone provides counseling for psychological, emotional and behavioral problems, victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment, and drug and alcohol problems. Individual, family and group therapy are available.