FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORMER SCHOOL BUS DRIVER GETS 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR INDECENCY WITH A CHILD

San Antonio, Texas: May 5, 2010

Today, District Attorney Susan D. Reed, announced that Manuel Garcia III, 64, pled guilty to one count of Indecency with a Child. The former Northside Independent School District bus driver was sentenced by 175th District Judge Mary Roman to fifteen years confinement in the Texas Department of Corrections.

The incident occurred on February 17, 2009 while the Defendant and the complainant were on board a school bus. The investigation revealed that although the defendant had moved the camera to face away from the passenger seats another employee had reset it. Unbeknownst to the defendant his actions were recorded by the video camera. The video showed the defendant forcing the 9 year old victim to place her hand on the defendant’s groin area. Garcia was subsequently terminated by the NISD.

Indecency with a child by contact is a 2nd degree felony, carrying a range of punishment of 2 years to 20 years confinement in the Texas Department of Corrections and up to a $10,000.00 fine. Garcia will also be required to register as a sex offender.

For more information, contact Adriana Biggs, Chief, White Collar Crime Division, at 335-2404.