Middletown police have arrested a DATTCO school bus driver who is accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy who was on her bus.
Police arrested 27-year-old Wendy Valero, of Middletown, after an investigation into her alleged inappropriate conduct with a boy.
Police said Valero was the bus driver for the victim for around three years and had become “friends” with him on various social media sites over the last year.
In addition to exchanging messages with the victim, police said Valero and the victim exchanged inappropriate pictures.
When the school year ended in June, Valero arranged to bring the teen to her home and is accused of exposing herself to him and engaging in sexual activity, police said.
Authorities said Valero has no association with the Middletown School system at this time.
"The Middletown Public School District is very concerned that this alleged inappropriate conduct has occurred. The district has worked with DATTCO to ensure that the driver is no longer employed. We support the Middletown Police Department in their continued efforts to remind all parents/guardians to monitor their children's activity on the computer, cell phone and/or tablet," Dr. Enza Macri, associate superintendent of schools in Middletown, said.
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Valero has been charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury and turned herself in to police on Tuesday.
Bond was set at $35,000 and Valero is free after posting it. She has been ordered to have no contact with the student and is due back in court on July 19.
DATTCO released a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
The Safety of our student passengers and the communities we serve is our number one priority. Upon being made aware of this investigation, DATTCO, Inc. immediately removed the driver from service, and has continued to cooperate with authorities. We learned today that the employee was arrested. Due to the ongoing investigation this is the only statement we are releasing at this time.
"The Safety of our student passengers and the communities we serve is our number one priority. Upon being made aware of this investigation, DATTCO, Inc. immediately removed the driver from service, and has continued to cooperate with authorities. We learned today that the employee was arrested. Due to the ongoing investigation this is the only statement we are releasing at this time," Cliff Gibson, chief operating officer of DATTCO, Inc., said in a statement.
It's not clear if Valero has an attorney.
The court documents are sealed for two weeks as of June 24.
