A former Huntingdon bus driver faces trial for assaulting female students.
The bus driver waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
David Gardner, 65, was arrested last week and is being charged with indecent assault, harassment and other inappropriate touching of breasts, buttocks, hips and thighs of seven minor female students.
Gardner also verbally harassed students, commenting on their appearances and asked a 15-year-old female student to sit on his lap on the bus. Gardner was the former bus driver for Mount Union Area Junior/High School.
“This bus driver exploited his position as a high school bus driver to harass and assault underage minors who were entrusted to his care,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “Students took action and were brave enough to come forward about this abuse, and now, he will be held responsible for his crimes. We will hold him – and anyone who abuses children in Pennsylvania – accountable.”
The investigation began when the Huntingdon County Office of Children’s Services reached out to state police.
Police said that the stepmother of one of the students complained directly to the school about Gardner’s behavior in January 2017.
The investigation is ongoing.
