Former Pa. school bus driver pleads guilty to molestation charge

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former school bus driver has pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault for molesting a mentally disabled 16-year-old girl who later told a classmate she was “dating” the man.

Thirty-year-old Jason Freeland, of North Union Township, was charged in February after the classmate told Uniontown Area Senior High School officials about the victim’s statement.

Freeland has since been fired by Rittenhouse Bus Lines.

Police say the incident happened after he picked up the girl at the school on Jan. 27 then took her to a van where he drove with the girl to an undisclosed location and touched her inappropriately.

The Herald-Standard of Uniontown reports Freeland pleaded guilty Tuesday. It was not clear when he’ll be sentenced though his wife, Christina, asked a Fayette County judge to impose the “maximum” because he’s victimized her and their three children.