Bus driver admits molesting students
James McIntyre could serve prison time for offenses against special needs children
A former Bucks County school bus driver has admitted he had indecent contact with two special needs students he transported from their homes in Bucks to a school in Chester County.
James C. McIntyre, 75, of the 1700 block of Mill Road, Hilltown Township, Bucks County, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Friday to charges of institutional sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children and indecent exposure in connection with incidents that occurred between 2009 and 2015 while the van he operated traveled through Montgomery County, including Towamencin Township.
“I think that he recognized the special needs that they had and he preyed on their disabilities in order to perpetrate his crimes,” said Assistant District Attorney M. Stewart Ryan.
Judge Garrett D. Page deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about McIntyre, who faces a possible maximum sentence of 13 to 26 years in prison on the charges. However, state sentenc-
ing guidelines could allow for less jail time.
Ryan vowed to seek a state prison sentence against McIntyre, who is represented by defense lawyer Marc Neff.
“Obviously any time you’re talking about the sexual abuse of a young person, that’s deeply troubling and deserving of significant penalties. But when you add a layer of this individual being entrusted to care for these girls, transporting them to and from school, that obviously makes it worse,” Ryan said.
McIntyre also faces an evaluation by the state’s Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria under state law to be classified as a sexually violent predator.
The victims included a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, according to authorities. Both victims, who are special needs students, came into contact with McIntyre while he drove them in a school van from their homes in Bucks County to the Vanguard School in Malvern, Chester County, according to authorities.
During one police interview, according to a criminal complaint, McIntyre allegedly stated rhetorically, “Why did I do that? Why, why, why? Just for a little thrill at my age? Who the hell knows.”
McIntyre, who at the time of the incidents was a minivan bus driver for the Pennridge School District, remains free on bail pending his sentencing hearing.
The investigation revealed the conduct occurred while the van was stopped at various traffic lights in Montgomery County and McIntyre was transporting the girls to and from school.
The investigation began when the parents of the 14-year-old girl contacted Hilltown Township police on Jan. 2 to report that the girl had disclosed she had been touched inappropriately by McIntyre, according to the criminal complaint.
When confronted by detectives, McIntyre allegedly admitted to the inappropriate touching incidents with the girl.
“When asked why he would touch (the girl) McIntyre admitted that it was for a ‘cheap thrill,’” Montgomery County Detective James Reape alleged in the arrest affidavit. “Mr. McIntyre stated that they occurred
while at traffic lights or while stopped because he wouldn’t engage in these activities while driving.”
McIntyre identified the location of Route 63 in the area of the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange in Towamencin as a location where touching incidents occurred while on the way to school, according to court papers.
“He stated that it would take several light cycles with traffic to get through the traffic light and so he would use that time to engage in touching,” Reape alleged.
The investigation led authorities to the second victim, now a 22-year-old woman who told authorities McIntyre had indecent contact with her while he transported her to school over the course of several years beginning in 2009 when she was between the ages of 16 and 19, according to authorities.
Authorities said Pennridge School District officials cooperated with the investigation. School officials previously said McIntyre was employed with the district’s transportation department since 2002 and was suspended without pay and was banned from school property, pending the outcome of the investigation.