by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Ashlie Hardway

EL PASO -- Today a federal judge sentenced a former El Paso Independent School District teacher to serve four years in prison.

Eduardo Rivas, 56, pled guilty earlier this year to inappropriately touching a 10-year-old girl in his 5th grade class at Bliss Elementary. Judge David Briones sentenced Rivas to 48 months in prison, plus 10 years probation, adding "I wish I could give you a higher sentence Mr. Rivas, but I can't." Forty-eight months was the maximum confinement time.

A criminal complaint obtained by the ABC-7 I-Team earlier this year stated Rivas touched the breasts of the girl while helping her after an injury. Rivas resigned shortly after the girl's parents told school officials. He is still collecting a pension with EPISD.

Rivas is still certified to teach in Texas, and has been for 30 years, although he is currently under review from the State Board of Education. Rivas has taught at at least three other schools before teaching at Bliss. He is not in the military.

The girl's mother told ABC-7 today the inappropriate activity began three weeks before the molestation. "He started giving her sweaters, his size. It was like, 'Give them back! Why is he giving her so much attention?'" she said. The girl's mother adds her daughter is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. "She was crying. She was scared. She felt that it was her fault," she said.

Rivas will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He cannot possess any pornography nor can he interact with any child under the age of 18 unless an authorized adult is present.