Pocono News Section

Bus Driver Accused of Molesting Students

Bus Driver Accused of Molesting Students - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 04:03AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Friday May 21 2010
MIDDLEBURG, SNYDER COUNTY- A Snyder County school bus driver is charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors. Police say the driver inappropriately touched four young girls while they were on the school bus. The kids range in age from 8 through 11. Harry Jacob Miller, Jr., 53, of New Berlin, is the driver charged.

He denied the allegations when questioned by police. But with parents in the Midd-West School District already enraged, investigators caution there could be more victims out there. State police say some of the illegal acts occurred over as much as a five-year period.

The four alleged victims told investigators Miller touched and grabbed their chest and buttocks. Police say numerous other witnesses have corroborated those allegations. Miller has been employed as a bus driver for the past 15 years. Now parents are questioning how this could happen.

Anne Barnett, of Beavertown, asked, "How many more do they have in the system that they haven't checked? What can we do as parents to make sure the school district is doing all they can to make sure our kids are safe?"

Midd-West's contracted busing company, Narehood Transportation, says background checks are performed on all drivers.

They say they found no previous criminal history for Harry Jacob Miller, Jr. Administrators at Midd-West did not return our calls for comment Friday afternoon. Miller was released on bail following his arraignment. He'll be back in court next week.