POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County school bus driver was arrested Thursday by deputies on multiple counts of sexual battery of special needs children riding his bus.
Deputies said a student at Horizons Elementary School in Davenport told his school counselor that he saw Carlos Ojeda, 72, place his hands down a female student's pants on several occasions.
Deputies said both victims were under 12 years old and all the students on Ojeda's bus are special needs.
"There are no words to describe the depravity displayed by this suspect. He drives a school bus where he has access to these precious children, he lures them with candy and physically assaults them in such a way that nobody will see it, or report it," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Surveillance video from the bus shows Ojeda standing in the stairwell of the bus while it's parked at the school, motioning to the victim to approach him while showing a piece of candy, deputies said.
Officials said Ojeda pulls the victim toward him, sexually batters her in the bus stairwell, out of sight from other children, then gives her the candy and she goes back to her seat.
Detectives said Ojeda told them he sexually battered the two girls eight times. In the arrest report, detectives said Ojeda told them, "I don't know what has happened to me. I am confessing my sins to you."
"Together with the Polk County School Board, we are committed to keeping children safe. Thanks to their quick actions in reporting this, we were able to prevent this monster from hurting anyone else," Judd said.
Ojeda is charged with eight counts of capital sexual battery and is being held without bail. His first appearance is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Deputies said when he was arrested, the suspect had candy in his pocket.
School officials said Ojeda drove his bus to three different school: Horizons Elementary, Boone Middle and Ridge Community High. Investigators said they are interviewing school children and their parents to identify any other potential victims.
Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said in a statement:
"I am angry and deeply saddened. Parents entrust us every day with the most precious thing in their lives: their children. Their safety is our highest priority.
“We took swift action. The bus driver was immediately suspended without pay, and after reviewing information from the Sheriff’s Office, a recommendation to terminate his employment will be brought before the Polk County School Board on April 26.”
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