Former Las Cruces bus driver convicted on child rape charge

A jury convicted the former Las Cruces school bus driver who had sex with a 15-year-old student, District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced Tuesday.

Darien Pete, 27, pleaded no contest with no agreement to sentencing or a reduction in charges. He was convicted on two counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, both fourth-degree felonies.

Pete is facing a three year prison sentence and will have to register as a sex offender.

Investigators say Pete met the 15-year-old girl in 2015 while driving a school bus. The two exchanged contact information and communicated via social media and text messages.

The girl’s mother became suspicious, discovered some of the messages appeared to be sexual in nature, and reported the information to Las Cruces police.

Judge Fernando Macias ordered Pete to turn himself into jail on January 3, 2017 so he can be transported to prison for a 60-day diagnostic evaluation.

Sentencing will be scheduled after the evaluation.

Prosecutors with the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said they plan on asking for the maximum 3-year penalty.