School bus driver accused of molesting young girl

School bus driver accused of molesting young girl

Scott Bender is seen during his arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

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Story Published: Oct 30, 2007 at 11:55 AM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 30, 2007 at 5:11 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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TACOMA, Wash. -- A Peninsula School District bus driver has been arrested after allegedly fondling and molesting a four-year-old girl on his bus.

Scott M. Bender was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree child molestation. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.

According to a statement of probable cause, the investigation began last week when the girl's mother contact a teacher at the school and said her daughter told her that she had been touched inappropriately by Bender.

The child told a police investigator that alleged abuse occurred on the bus after she was picked up at her bus stop on October 9.

"The 4-year-old made comments that a 4-year-old can't make unless they've been involved in this, because it's not learned behavior," said sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer. "These things that she said were very graphic. When we did our investigation we got information to corroborate it."

When interviewed by Pierce County sheriff's detectives, the documents say Bender initially denied all of the allegations but later admitted to exposing himself to the girl.

District Superintendent Terry Bouck said there have been no problems in the past with Bender, and the driver was taken off his route as soon as the district learned of the allegations.

"Absolutely no issues or red flags, this was something that was shocking to us," Bouck said.

Bender is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. A judge ordered that if he makes bail, Bender is to have no contact with children and is not allowed to leave the state.

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