A longtime Jefferson County Public Schools bus driver is behind bars after Lakewood police say he had an inappropriate relationship with a 10-year-old student. Authorities identified the suspect as 64-year-old Robert Charles Watters and said he was taken into custody on March 12. He is being held at the Jefferson County Detention Facility in Golden on suspicion of felony sexual assault on a child, and investigators say the case remains active.
Where the driver worked
Hutchinson Elementary is located at 12900 West Utah Avenue in Lakewood and serves elementary students in the Green Mountain area. The school's public pages include information about transportation and bus routes used by families in the neighborhood.
Arrest details and routes
Lakewood police arrested Robert Charles Watters on March 12 on suspicion of felony sexual assault on a child and say the allegation involves an inappropriate relationship with a 10-year-old student, as reported by The Denver Post. According to reporting from The Denver Post, Watters has worked for Jeffco Public Schools since 2018 and drove the district's C-31 route beginning in August 2023 after previously driving the C-49 route between 2021 and 2023.
Jail and local records
Public facility information shows the Jefferson County Detention Facility in Golden handles bookings for arrests in Lakewood and neighboring areas. The county's facility page lists the detention center address as 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden and provides general inmate and booking information for the public.
Police ask for tips
Lakewood police are urging anyone with information to call the department tip line at 303-763-6800, the newspaper reported. The Denver Post also noted that a Jeffco Public Schools representative could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting.
What happens next
The arrest is an allegation, and investigators will forward evidence to prosecutors who decide whether to file formal charges. Anyone following the case should expect updates from Lakewood police and the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office as the investigation proceeds.
