Police near Schenectady, New York arrested a school bus aide working for Rensselaer City School District after he allegedly exposed himself to a student with disabilities and engaged in inappropriate contact while the child was being transported.
Felton Edwards, Jr., 67, was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, or an incompetent or physically disabled person, involving sexual contact without consent, a Class E felony. He was also charged with public lewdness, a Class B misdemeanor, according to a July 31 press release from the City of Rensselaer Police Department.
Police said the department received a complaint July 17 from Rensselaer City School District Superintendent Joseph Kardash regarding allegations that a school bus aide had inappropriate contact with a student.
Investigators determined that the alleged incident occurred the day prior while a school bus was transporting the student within the city of Rensselaer. Police allege Edwards exposed himself to the student, touched himself in the student’s presence, and allowed the student to place a hand inside his shorts.
The police did not identify the student or disclose the student’s age, school or disability. It also did not indicate whether other students or adults were on board the bus when the incident occurred.
It is unclear how the allegations were initially brought to the superintendent’s attention, who operated the school bus or whether the vehicle had surveillance cameras.
Edwards was arraigned in Rensselaer City Court before Judge Linda Johnson and released. Edwards was ordered to return to court Aug. 5 at 8:30 a.m. A full stay-away order of protection was issued on behalf of the student, according to police.
“RCSD would like to thank the RPD for a swift response to this criminal activity,” the district said in a statement to local news reports. “We appreciate the partnership, communication and diligence every time that we call them, especially in this case.”
The district statement did not provide additional information about Edwards’ employment status, including whether he had been removed from service following the complaint. It also did not specify what steps, if any, the district had taken to review transportation procedures or support the student and the student’s family. School Transportation News reached out to the district but did not receive a response at this
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