Student Allegedly Sexually Assaulted on School Bus

JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. — According to a sheriff’s office report, a sexual assault allegedly occurred on a school bus transporting elementary students here last week, WBTW reports.

A report from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies were called to Johnsonville Elementary School on March 9. School officials notified them that a student told a teacher that a sexual assault had occurred on her bus ride home the day before, according to the news source.

The teacher stated in the report that bus video shows a student forcing the alleged victim to the back of the bus, and a student trying to pull her pants down and have sexual intercourse, WBTW reports. The report also stated that several other students witnessed the incident. After watching part of the video, a deputy noted that one student appeared to shield what was happening from the bus driver’s view, according to the news source. The ages of the students involved were not listed in the report.

Florence District 5 Schools Superintendent Dr. Randy Smiley told the news source that he could not say whether the alleged attackers are still allowed to ride the school bus. Smiley also said that the district is working to ensure that such incidents don’t happen again, and that it hasn’t decided whether to add a monitor to the bus where the incident occurred.

Florence District 5 Schools released a statement that said that it is cooperating with law enforcement regarding the allegations, and that it immediately contacted law enforcement once staff members were made aware of the incident.