A school bus driver is accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in his car while driving her home from a friend’s house in January, according to police and online court documents.
Ricardo Julien, 39, of Bridgeport, has been placed on an unpaid leave of absence from Dattco and picked up children in Trumbull when he was working there, according to police and Dattco. He is accused of sexually assaulting the child in his own car, then driving her home.
After learning of the allegation, the girl’s mother called police, then confronted Julien at his home, police said.
When police spoke with the 5-year-old, she said Julien previously sexually assaulted her at his home.
Julien, who police said was a friend of the victim’s family, was charged Monday with first-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child, according to the online court docket.
He told police he is stressed and no longer able to work, police said.
Officials from Dattco said Julien worked for the company from August 2013 until February 2016, when the company learned of the allegations .
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They said they conducted FBI fingerprint checks, an annual criminal background checks, multiple pre-employment examinations and federal and state requirements.
“In February of 2016, our company was informed of a pending investigation by officials of the Department of Children and Families. The company immediately placed the employee on unpaid leave of absence, pending the outcome of that investigation. He remains in a non-work status at this time, and Dattco will continue to monitor the investigation, cooperating with the authorities as required,” Dattco said in a statement.
Julien is being held on $200,000 bond and it’s not clear if he has an attorney.
He is due in court on Nov. 8.
