A Larimer County judge sentenced a former teacher to 16 years in prison and 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting children over a span of 20 years.

Eighth Judicial District Judge Stephen Jouard sentenced 60-year-old Robert Denise to 16 years in prison Thursday after Denise pleaded guilty to three counts felony sexual exploitation of a child in April, according to a news release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.

Denise will also be required to register as a sex offender. 

A victim reported to the sheriff’s office in January 2023 that Denise had sexually assaulted them in the early 2000s while Denise was a teacher at Cache La Poudre Junior High — now CLP Middle School in Laporte.

Denise was placed on administrative leave by the school in February of 2023, and was later arrested in April.

Following his arrest, four additional victims came forward to the sheriff’s office, all claiming similar patterns of abuse over the 20-year period. Two of the victims reported incidents that occurred out of the statute of limitations. 

As of June 2023, after the charges were filed, there is no longer a statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a child cases in Colorado under CRS 18-3-402.

Three sexual assault charges were dismissed in April 2024 as a part of Denise’s plea deal, leaving the man to face sentencing for the three exploitation charges.

Jouard noted during the sentencing that Denise used his “considerable influence” as a well-liked teacher, mentor and authority figure to groom and ultimately assault victims, the sheriff’s office said.

“Sexual abuse and exploitation create a ripple effect of lasting harm that victims have to navigate for the rest of their lives. We trust our educators to care for the best interests of the kids in their care, and this man betrayed that trust in the worst way,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said.