The Colorado Springs church music teacher and former school bus driver accused of sexually abusing at least three children pleaded guilty to three felony charges of sexual misconduct and is now facing up to 12 years in the Department of Corrections.

Robert Gordon, 58, was arrested in April on suspicion of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, sexual assault on a child, unlawful sexual contact, and enticement of a child after an investigation by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

He was arrested after a parent reported finding inappropriate text messages between their son and Gordon — who at the time was a friend of the family and employed as a music teacher at the First United Pe n - t e -

costal Church in the Security area south of Colorado Springs.

Gordon’s arrest in April follows a previous investigation into Gordon in 2011, initiated by similar allegations, according to previous reports by The Gazette. A male victim reported he and Gordon allegedly had a sexual relationship in 2001 when the boy was around 12 years old. He was said to have met Gordon at a church in Security-widefield.

In court Friday, Gordon faced three felony charges including two counts of sexual abuse on a child, and one count of sexual assault on a child while in a position of trust.

The prosecution’s opening statement Friday outlined what he called Gordon’s long-running history of pedophilic, sexually deviant behavior that he allegedly engaged in for decades.

“This is a case that is very troubling and it’s a circumstance that is very troubling, because of the length of interaction that Mr. Gordon has had, Specifically with the church he’s been a member of for a substantial amount of time,” prosecutor Kelson Castain said, adding that through both Gordon’s psychological screening inventory and psychosexual evaluation, the church appeared to be, “the location of his hunting ground for his victims, for continuing to find additional people that he could not only groom but manipulate victims for home over the course of decades.”

Castain said the law enforcement investigation indicated that Gordon had engaged in sex with at least three boys from the church while he was an adult. Gordon admitted to having sex with a minor from the church at least every other week.

Additionally, Castain explained Gordon would offer his victims “vapes,” video games, and provide them with places to play as a means of grooming children, and gaining their trust.

“This is not someone who is not looking for an easy opportunity, this is someone who is actively cultivating and grooming and creating an environment to victimize children,” Castain said.

The prosecution requested that Gordon be sentenced to 12 years in the DOC, followed by 20 years to life in the state’s Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Program, the maximum sentence under the terms of the plea agreement, considering his position as an alleged repeat offender.

According to Castain, the state of Colorado approaches sex offenders under a “no cure,” philosophy, operating under a risk management approach.

“We (the court) can never guarantee that someone

“This is a case that is very troubling and it’s a circumstance that is very troubling, because of the length of interaction that Mr. Gordon has had, Specifically with the church he’s been a member of for a substantial amount of time.”

Kelson Castain, prosecutor

is never going to offend in the future. With Mr. Gordon, that’s a particular concern,” Castain said, adding that Gordon’s history of sexual misconduct proves to the court that he is at of risk offending again.

“(A) Six-year sentence does not demonstrate the severity and the devastation that Mr. Gordon has caused this community, these victims and the other people he has interacted with throughout the decades that he has been offending,” Castain said.

“12 years is also insufficient to fully display to the community the devastation Mr. Gordon has committed, but it is something that guarantees several years’ worth of peace to these family members and to other members of the congregation that Mr. Gordon preyed upon for so long. It also sends a message to the community that this kind of behavior is not tolerated, and should not be tolerated by anyone, whether they’re in a position of authority or not.”

In response, Defense Attorney Deana O’riley argued for the shorter six-year prison sentence allowed under the plea agreement, based on Gordon’s mental health evaluation and ability to take responsibility for his actions, citing this as a reason he may be more susceptible to targeted treatment therefore lowering his risk of reoffending following release.

Based on the clinician’s evaluation, O’riley explains there were two areas Gordon scored as high-risk, being impulsive acts as well as sexual preoccupation.

“His opinion supports that Mr. Gordon is an above average risk,” O’riley said, adding that if the suggested mental health and offensive treatment is applied, and appropriately addressed, that risk might go down.

“Mr. Gordon’s statement to the evaluator is a good start. He takes responsibility, he talks about the actions in this case, and there are, I think the court is aware, (of ) a lot of situations where someone is in denial of their history and behavior,” O’riley said. “He is already starting from a place of responsibility and recognition of the damage he has inflicted and caused on the individuals in this case, recognizing the need for that punitive aspect, and going to prison.”

She requested the court to accept the plea agreement and to consider a six-year sentence in the DOC.

She added that whenever Gordon does leave prison, he will be “in an extremely monitored environment,” referring to the supervision that will be provided by SOISP.

“If he does anything that probation feels is a violation, he will end up in prison.”

Following statements from both the prosecution and defense, Gordon addressed the court apologetically and asked for forgiveness.

“I would like to say that I am very sorry for my actions. I take full responsibility, and I ask that you please forgive me,” Gordon said.

Following careful deliberation, Judge Samual Evig arrived at a decision.

“There are few offenses more serious,” Evig said.

“I don’t believe there is a sentence I can impose that is going to fix this for the victims in this case and the families of victims in this case. The consequences of the behavior, go on forever,” the judge said. I think most of the people in this room recognize that, and frankly by hearing the plea that he did Mr. Gordon is beginning to recognize that as well. And to the families of the victims and the victims themselves, I’m sorry. That’s cold comfort, I understand that, but that is what I have to offer today.”

“I’m going to accept the agreement in this case, although not perfect, it has a punishment component, which I think is appropriate in this case. It has a rehabilitation component and a monitoring component. And quite frankly, I think all of those things are important in this particular, factual situation.”

Judge Evig accepted the plea agreement, and sentenced Gordon to two six-year sentences to run consecutively with the Department of Corrections, followed by two years of mandatory parole. Additionally, Gordon is sentenced to 20 years to life SOISP sentence.

In explaining his reasoning, Judge Evig said his sentence was based on Gordon’s repeated behavior, and the nature of where the abuses had occurred, as well as the mental health evaluation that indicated Gordon was at high risk to reoffend.