PUEBLO, Colo. — A Pueblo West man was arrested on Monday for child abuse, following an investigation into an incident involving his seven-year-old child. Ulysses Kropf-Castillo, 35, was taken into custody after the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office received a report from School Resource Officers (SROs) at an elementary school in Pueblo County School District 70.
The SROs were informed of the alleged abuse by a school employee, which prompted an investigation. Upon speaking with the child, officers discovered visible injuries, which were reportedly inflicted by Kropf-Castillo. The child was promptly taken to a local hospital for treatment but has since been released to a parent.
The name of the child involved, as well as the name of the school, have not been released to protect the victim’s identity. Under Colorado law, the identities of minors involved in criminal cases are shielded from public disclosure, thanks to “Riley’s Law,” or SB 23-075, signed by Governor Jared Polis in May 2023.
Kropf-Castillo has been booked into the Pueblo County Jail in connection with the incident. The sheriff’s office confirmed that this is the third arrest in five days related to child abuse. On March 6, two individuals were arrested after an investigation into the abuse of a six-year-old child. School staff at another District 70 elementary school had notified authorities about that case.
District 70 Superintendent Ronda Rein issued a statement expressing the district’s commitment to student safety. “Pueblo County School District 70 takes all reports of child abuse seriously. The safety and wellbeing of our students are our highest priorities. As mandated reporters, all employees are required to report suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with Colorado law. The district remains committed to protecting students and working with the proper authorities to ensure their safety,” Rein said.
Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero also addressed the troubling incidents, thanking school staff and SROs for their efforts. “These are very disturbing and unfortunate incidents involving the abuse of children in our community. I appreciate and commend the school resource officers and the school staff for their work on these very difficult cases. These types of incidents are never easy,” Lucero said.
He also offered a message to community members experiencing stress or challenges: “I want to remind people if they are stressed or struggling to call for help and reach out to resources in the community to avoid getting into an abusive situation.”
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone concerned about a child’s welfare to report suspected abuse or neglect by calling the appropriate authorities.
