Pewaukee bus driver charged with repeated sexual assault of child, sexual misconduct by school staff
A Pewaukee school bus driver is facing four felony charges alleging improper conduct with a minor on a school bus.
Thomas Felser, 62, of Sussex, was charged May 16 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with one felony count of repeated sexual assault of the same child and three felony counts of sexual misconduct by school staff or volunteer.
The charge of repeated sexual assault of the same child carries a sentence of up to 60 years in prison. Each of the other three charges carries the potential for a fine of up to $10,000, up to 3½ years in prison, or both, according to the criminal complaint.
Felser turned himself into Village of Pewaukee police on May 14.
In a May 16 letter to parents and staff, Pewaukee Schools Superintendent Mike Cady said that, to the district's knowledge, the incident involved a single victim and the district would notify parents if their students were assigned to one of Felser's routes.
"We are devastated by the news of what is reported to have happened and stunned by the allegations of an incredible violation of community trust by an individual responsible for the safety and care of children. The police investigation continues and the Pewaukee School District and Go Riteway will remain steadfast in supporting the work of the police to ensure that justice is done," Cady said in his letter.
The superintendent also said that the investigation includes a review of all available video footage from every route Felser drove. He said anyone with additional information should contact Village of Pewaukee Police at 262-446-5070.
Cady said the district's priorities are caring and supporting the affected student and the student's family, supporting the ongoing law enforcement investigation and working with Go Riteway to review all safety and security practices and procedures to identify areas needing enhancement.
Cady declined to speak with a reporter about the situation. Go Riteway, the bus company that contracts with the school district, also declined to comment.
Craig Powell, Felser's attorney, was not immediately available when a reporter called his law office.
According to the criminal complaint:
A woman told Village of Pewaukee police May 13 that her child was riding home from school when she noticed on a GPS bus tracking app that her child's bus had been stopped for 10 minutes.
The woman drove to the location of her child's bus and said she initially did not see anyone on the bus. When she called her child's name, Felser "popped his head up 'super fast'" from the middle of the bus, and she noticed her child sitting next to Felser.
She claimed Felser told her he was just talking to her child about the child's day and that he "does that sometimes." The woman also said her child had come home with packages of Skittles on multiple occasions after the driver asked about her favorite candy, the complaint said.
Police review of the bus security footage showed the bus stopped for an extended period of time with just Felser and the child on it. It also showed the two walking to the back of the bus before going to a seat in the middle of the bus.
Felser was seen "hunched over the seat with his back to the aisle," his head close to the child and his right arm obstructed by Felser's body position. The child was also obstructed from view for two minutes.
The footage showed the child popping up from the seat and the child and Felser walking to the front of the bus after the child's mother called the child's name, the complaint said.
Police also reviewed security footage from other dates and noticed Felser sitting with the child for extended periods of time while the bus was stopped and that Felser was uncomfortably close to the child. The child was also seen sitting on Felser's lap or leaning against him.
At one point, Felser was heard telling the child to tell the child's parents the bus was dropping off other kids if the child's parents asked what took so long, the complaint said.
When police interviewed the child, the child said Felser asked if the child would check the bus with him since the child's stop was the last stop.
The child said that meant picking up garbage and sweeping and the child sitting in the seat with Felser and in Felser's lap. In addition, the child said Felser touched her in her private areas, according to the complaint.
Cady told police Felser had been a teacher in the district for over 30 years before working for Go Riteway. Cady also said Felser was most recently a summer school teacher and an independent tutor for students in Pewaukee and surrounding communities, the complaint said.
A Go Riteway manager told police Felser drove morning and afternoon routes for all four of the Pewaukee School District's schools. The manager said she had never received a complaint about Felser before.
Felser made his initial court appearance May 16. He is being held in the Waukesha County Jail on $350,000 bail. He is scheduled to be in court May 28 for a preliminary hearing, according to online court records.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pewaukee bus driver charged with repeated sexual assault of child, sexual misconduct by school staff
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The manager said she had never received a complaint about Felser before. Felser made his initial court appearance May 16. He is being held in the Waukesha County Jail on $350,000 bail. He is scheduled to be in court May 28 for a preliminary hearing, according to online court records. Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pewaukee bus driver charged with repeated sexual assault of child, sexual misconduct by school staff
