Saratoga Springs school bus driver arrested on sex charges UPDATE New charges in Mechanicville

[MedicCook]

School bus driver arrested on sex charges

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- A 35-year-old bus driver for the Saratoga Springs City School District was arrested Wednesday night in connection with allegations that he forcibly touched two 14-year-old boys over an eight-month period in 2007.

Douglas G. Conrad, of 151 Jefferson St., was charged with four misdemeanor counts of forcible touching related to incidents police said occurred at his residence at Building 4, Apt. A1 in the Whitmore Court apartment complex.

The first incidents allegedly occurred in February 2007, another happened in April and two more in September, according to court documents.

Conrad was arrested at his home on a warrant at approximately 7 p.m. Wednesday.

"I just want to get this over with," said Conrad, who wore a blue baseball-style jacket at his arraignment Wednesday night in front of City Judge Douglas C. Mills. Conrad pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Conrad said he has lived in the area for more than 10 years and added that he "was" a bus driver for the Saratoga schools.

In addition to the four misdemeanor counts, an order of protection was issued ordering Conrad to stay away from the two alleged victims.

Police said they have been notified by authorities in Mechanicville who were interested in Conrad’s case file for possible allegations that occurred in Mechanicville 18 months ago.

Bail was set at $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond. In lieu of bail, Conrad was sent to Saratoga County Jail and will return to City Court on Thursday.

According to the Saratoga Springs City School District Web site, the district’s transportation department has ongoing openings for school bus drivers, with starting pay at $13.84 per hour and no prior experience necessary.

School officials did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday night.

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/02/13/news/latest/doc47b3b4952c570944413419.txt

[MedicCook]

Spa City man faces felony sex abuse charge
Man lives at same address as Douglas Conrad, who also faces charges of forcibly touching minor

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Police on Friday charged a 60-year-old Saratoga Springs man with felony sexual abuse against a minor as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations a Saratoga Springs bus driver also sexually abused two minors.

Police would reveal little on Saturday about the connection between James E. Wiley, 60, who was arrested Friday on one felony count of a criminal sexual act, and Douglas G. Conrad, a bus driver for the Saratoga Springs City School District since 2004 who was arrested Wednesday on charges he forcibly touched two minors in 2007.

But police list each of the men’s addresses as 151 Jefferson St. and the Post-Star’s news partner, WNYT-TV NewsChannel 13, reported that Wiley is Conrad’s uncle.

Conrad, who the school district has put on paid leave, pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor counts of forcibly touching a minor in City Court on Thursday. Wiley, too, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him in City Court.

Wiley remained in Saratoga County Jail on Saturday in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond but Conrad has been bailed out, a jail official said Saturday.

Conrad is accused of forcibly touching two 14-year-old boys at the Whitmore Court apartment complex on four separate occasions in 2007. The incidents took place at a private residence and are unrelated to his position with the school district, police said.

The circumstances surrounding Wiley’s charge were less clear on Saturday though police say the victim was known to him. Further questions were directed to Saratoga Springs Lt. Gregory Veitch, who was immediately unavailable for comment on Saturday.

Police in Mechanicville are also looking into similar allegations surrounding Conrad that date back to 2002 and further charges could be forthcoming they and Saratoga Springs police said.

Whether or not police in Mechancville are also now interested in Wiley was immediately unclear an officer there said.

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/02/16/news/latest/doc47b71f0f846f6289973502.txt

[sws4420]

I don't like the way the headline is worded. It sort of insinuates that the guy diddled some kid on the bus when that wasn't the case.

I doubt if I do anything illegal that the headline is going to read Advanced Chemical Operator commits [insert felony here].

[MedicCook]

I don't like the way the headline is worded. It sort of insinuates that the guy diddled some kid on the bus when that wasn't the case.

I doubt if I do anything illegal that the headline is going to read Advanced Chemical Operator commits [insert felony here].

If it involved selling trade secrets it would. I think that his job and his crime are involved though. He is most likely these kids bus driver and that is how he gets them to trust him. And now it looks like he may have been working with his uncle. I really hope if there are more victims they come forward.

[LLL]

"I really hope if there are more victims they come forward".................................................. .......AND BEAT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF BOTH THESE BASTARDS.

[MedicCook]

Mom of sex abuse victims arrested

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The case of a Saratoga Springs school driver and his roommate accused of sexual abuse has taken a new twist. The mother of two of the victims has just been arrested.

Police say the mother failed to properly protect her children from abuse.

Douglas Conrad and James Wiley and are accused of sexually abusing the woman's children.

NewsChannel 13 has decided to withhold the woman's name to protect the identity of her children.

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S358681.shtml?cat=300

[MedicCook]

Spa bus driver charged again

SARATOGA SPRINGS - A city school bus driver recently accused of forcibly touching two underage boys was charged with two more counts of the crime this morning for allegedly abusing a third victim, city police said.

Douglas Conrad, 35, pleaded not guilty in City Court to the misdemeanors. The charges stem from his actions with a 12-year-old boy, who is not being identified, city police Lt. Gregory Veitch said today.

"I would like to say no additional arrests are expected, but I can't," Veitch said.

Police arrested Conrad for the second time in 15 days after an alleged victim came forward after Conrad's arrest on four counts of forcible touching, Veitch said. Those charges came from multiple instances last year in which Conrad allegedly groped two young teenage boys in his apartment at 151 Jefferson St.

Conrad made $2,500 bail in that case. He was returned to Saratoga County jail this morning on the latest charges. Bail was set at $2,500.

The city police department's Juvenile Aid Unit continues to investigate leads related to Conrad, Veitch said. Conrad has been suspended from his job as bus driver for the Saratoga Springs City School District pending the charges. There is no indication any of the alleged activity is related to his employment, Veitch said.

Mechanicville police also are investigating charges that Conrad sexually abused children there, police Chief Joseph Waldron said.

The county's Department of Social Services had investigated a 2002 incident at a Mechanicville day care center and found reason to believe that Conrad molested a 4- and 6-year-old. He was never charged in the cases due to lack of evidence.

Conrad's roommate, James Wiley, was recently charged with the felony of committing a criminal sexual act against a minor.

Dennis Yusko can be reached at 454-5353 or by e-mail at dyusko@timesunion.com.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=667633&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=2/28/2008

[MedicCook]

Former Saratoga bus driver faces new sex charges in Mechanicville

MECHANICVILLE — New charges have been filed in Mechanicville against the former Saratoga Springs school bus driver accused of sexually abusing several boys.

Douglas Conrad, 35, has been charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child for an alleged incident involving a 12-year-old boy.

Police said they have evidence that Conrad sexually abused a boy under the age of 14 in 2007 while Conrad was living in an apartment on Frances Street. Police Chief Joseph Waldron wouldn't say what kind of evidence police had, but did say that it was more than just statements from victims or witnesses.

"We're continuing to follow other leads," he said. "We're still questioning people to this day, even [on possible incidents] as far back as 2002."

Conrad is currently free on bail. Under an agreement between his attorney and City Court, he will appear at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, to face the new charges.

James Wiley, 60, who is Conrad's cousin and was his roommate at the time, was also charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. Wiley also lived with Conrad in Saratoga Springs and was accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy there just after Conrad was initially arrested.

Wiley is also scheduled to appear in City Court on Wednesday, March 12, to answer the new charges.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/mar/05/0305_bussie/