School Bus Driver Charged for Sexually Abusing Two Young Girls

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Tonight, a Maryland school bus driver faces charges he sexually abused two 11-year-old girls, while they were riding on his school bus. That driver is now off the job.

Police tell WJZ the driver openly admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with the two girls. Now, police are investigating to see if there may be more potential victims.

Montgomery County Police say 59-year-old Salvador Rodriguez violated public trust by engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with two 11-year-old female elementary school students on his bus.

"Unfortunately, sometimes people take advantage of that position and don't do the right thing," says Rick Goodale with the Montgomery County Police Department.

Police say Rodriguez, a Montgomery County Public Schools bus driver, was found to have been abusing his role since early February. Detectives say the incidents were caught on the bus security cameras.

"It did corroborate the victim's accounts of what happened," says Goodale.

WJZ has learned Rodriguez's bus routes included Albert Einstein Hiigh school, Newport Mill Middle School, and Rockview Elementary.

Rockview's principal issued a statement calling the allegations disturbing and completely unacceptable:

"Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has been fully cooperating with Child Protective Services, MCPD, and the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office on this matter. Pursuant to our memorandum of understanding with these agencies and MCPS policies and regulations, the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department requested us not to share any details broadly with the community until now to avoid prejudicing the ongoing investigation.

Mr. Rodriguez was immediately placed on administrative leave once MCPS became aware of the allegations. The allegations presented in the charging document are disturbing and completely unacceptable. They represent a serious breach of trust, responsibility, integrity and the law. This behavior does not reflect the principles and values of MCPS on our community, and it will not be tolerated.

As always, we are committed to the well-being of all our students. A support team of school psychologists, counselors and pupil personnel workers from MCPS will join with our staff on Monday, March 6 and will be available, as needed, to provide counseling and support to students. Ensuring a safe learning environment for our students is our top priority. If you or your child have any information that may be helpful to the investigation, I ask that you call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-5400."

Police say it was the two young victims coming forward that eventually led detectives to Rodriguez. They also say Rodriguez admitted to the wrong-doing after being arrested.

Rodriguez now faces a number of charges including a sex offense charge by a person in a position of authority. Montgomery County Public Schools placed Rodriguez on administrative leave as soon as they learned of the allegations.Detectives are requesting that parents of students who rode a school bus driven by Rodriguez to talk to their children about their interactions with him and contact detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

Detectives are requesting that parents of students who rode a school bus driven by Rodriguez to talk to their children about their interactions with him and contact detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

Bond information for Rodriguez is not available at this time.