Chester County School Bus Driver Charged With Sexual Assault Of Juvenile
WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – A Chester County school bus driver has been arrested for sexually assaulting a juvenile a decade ago.
Police in West Goshen Township say that on April 3, 2013, they were notified of an alleged sexual assault that had occurred more than 10 years ago. Following a lengthy investigation, they were able to arrest school bus driver Terry C. Smith, 63, of West Chester.
According to police, the assaults occurred when the victim and other minors would attend "sleep overs" at the suspect's house between 2002 and 2004, starting when the victim was 8-years-old. The victim is now an adult.
"He has a mother with two young girls living right next door. I'm a little scared and a little nervous," said a neighbor.
Since 2012, Smith has been a school bus driver with the Garnet Valley School District, but the alleged assault happened 10 years ago, when Smith worked in the IT profession, long before he was a bus driver.
The district's superintendent, Marc Bertrando, tells CBS 3 that Smith passed all of the necessary background checks when he was hired last year.
"The police believe that it was an isolated incident and we're just thankful that our students didn't come in harm's way," Bertrando said.
Upon his arrest, police say Smith confessed to the sexual assaults, saying that he was sexually attracted to the victim, but should not have succumbed to his impulses.
"In this case some good police work was done by detectives here and with the cooperation of the victim were able to get enough evidence to affect an arrest in this case," Det. Michael Carroll of West Goshen Police said.
Smith is now being held in Chester County Prison in lieu of posting $100,000 cash bail.
While police believe this may be an isolated incident, they are urging any other victims to come forward.
