School bus driver accused of raping 12-year-old

LEBANON — A 40-year-old bus driver for the Lebanon School District is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl.

Police arrested Forester Windle Ferguson of Lebanon Tuesday night and charged him with rape, a first-degree felony.

The alleged rape occurred in a Lebanon home Tuesday evening, according to Sgt. Jeff Mitchell, a Lebanon police detective. After the girl told her mother, she was taken to an area hospital and police were notified.

A phone message was sent to parents by the Lebanon School District after officials were told Wednesday morning about Ferguson’s arrest. The school message said Ferguson was no longer driving a bus for the school district, but did not elaborate on what he was charged with, according to a parent whose daughter rode on his bus.

Mitchell said the 12-year-old did not ride Ferguson’s bus. He also said Ferguson did not have a past criminal record.

Bill Lautar, director of human resources for the Lebanon School District, said Ferguson had been suspended with pay, but that status could change following his arraignment. Ferguson had been employed as a substitute bus driver since 2006 and became a full time bus driver in March 2010.

Before being hired, a state and federal background check was performed on Ferguson, as is standard procedure with all employee’s of the school district, Lautar said. Ferguson’s bus routes varied on a day-to-day basis, Lautar said.

There had been no personnel issues with him and everyone was stunned when they heard about his arrest, Lautar said.

The school district has not undertaken an investigation into any improprieties on Ferguson’s routes, Lautar said. Ferguson is being held on $100,000 bond.

A Lebanon Municipal Court official said Ferguson’s case could be considered by a Warren County grand jury as early as Friday.

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