A school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting two young Kinnelon students bribed them with candy and donuts so they would not to reveal the months of molestation during daily games of “hide-and-seek” on the bus after they parked outside the school in Morris County, authorities said.
Thomas Thomasevich, 70, of Oakland, was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual assault, child endangerment and multiple counts of neglect. He is being held in the Morris County jail, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
The sexual assaults began in October and continued near-daily until one of the girls reported the abuse by “Bus Driver Tom” to guidance counselors on Jan. 17, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by police in support of the charges. The girls were under the age of 13, but the specific Kinnelon school was not revealed in court documents.
The sexual abuse occurred on the bus outside the school after Thomasevich parked and allowed them to play “hide and seek” with seat belts off, authorities said. He arrived early enough that the students remained on the parked bus, and the used the opportunity to sexually assault the two girls, authorities said.
He also allowed students to play on the bus while it was moving with their seat belts off, authorities said.
During an interview Tuesday with police, Thomasevich told officers he might have touched one student, but that it was accidental because his eyes were closed for the game, authorities said. He denied touching a second student, authorities said.
A spokeswoman for the Kinnelon school district said Thomasevich was employed by an outside company, and will not have any further contact with students. A spokesman for the bus company, First Student, said they would be conducting their own internal investigation and that Thomasevich has been removed from service.
Thomasevich does not have any prior criminal history in New Jersey, court records show. He does not currently have a lawyer listed.
He faces two charges of sexual assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and six counts of cruelty and neglect of children. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Monday.
Credit: NJ.com
Disgusting ????
What a pos
Disgusting and why is a 70 yr old driving a bus?
Castrate Him!!
Don’t worry guys and gals he will probably just get probation
Fry Him
Sick bastard
Rachel Faith Goncalves this is what I was talking about
Jaime Buehl omg!! What a sicko!
What goes through these people’s minds? I’m a survivor, happened once and I told immediately. Years later the trauma lives on and can surface when I hear a certain word… it’s horrible. These people are sick and where my father took care of my pervert, I hope and pray this man gets what he deserves! Put him away and never let him near a child again!!!
P.O.S.!
Put a bullet in this guys head, save the tax payers money
POS!!!!
Oh wow
????????????????????????????????????
sicko!
He said “he may have touched a girl accident because his eyes were closed while playing hide and seek” nice try guy.
Well, pretty soon someone will be playing “hide and shriek” with him on the cell block.
Joseph Jones i sure hope so
sick sick sick
These girls should’ve said something earlier. At their age, they knew what was going on. Still doesn’t make it right though. Bus drivers are terrible. I always see kids with no seatbelts on, jumping up and down, whatever. They’re always in accidents, Lacey woman just getting the DWI. When does it end ?
I’m sure they would have wanted to tell somebody but when you’re a victim of sexual abuse it can feel really terrifying to tell somebody, especially if that person has bribed you or threatened you not to speak up.
Eleanora Avery with what they were bribed by is nothing. And if you’re bothered by it that much, you will tell someone. Friends if nothing else.
Not true at all, you have no idea tbh people go years not telling even one person.
Jason Forbey The girls were “under the age of 13”, and kids trust adults… they should have “said something earlier”???? Get real
Angela Rose Bird I am real. Under the age, means at least one was 13. Not all kids trust adults. Just because you do doesn’t mean everyone will. With what they’re teaching in school, they know to say something and what’s right from wrong.
Innocent until proven guilty.