A 50-year-old school bus driver in New York has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage student on his route multiple times earlier this year — at least once inside of the vehicle.
Giovanny Campos was indicted by a grand jury on multiple felony charges, including one count each of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree rape, as well as two counts of third-degree criminal sex acts and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, authorities announced.
According to a press release from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Campos appeared before state Supreme Court Judge Robert McDonald on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge set his bail at $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, and $1.25 million partially secured bond.
Giovanny Campos (Nassau County District Attorney’s Office)
Prosecutors said Campos, who was also known to the teenage victim as Giovanny Guzman, was an employee of the Cheese Bus Company. As part of his duties, Campos drove a bus route from Central High School to North High School, located about 18 miles east of Manhattan in Valley Stream, New York.
Authorities say that Campos regularly picked up the teenage student along that route between January and July of 2023.
“The defendant raped the child multiple times, including in a parking lot while still on the bus,” prosecutors wrote in the release. “The defendant also transported the teenager to his apartment in Jamaica, Queens, to engage in sexual acts with her.”
Campos was initially arrested on Sept. 28 by officers with the Nassau County Police Department Special Victims Unit at his home in Jamaica, Queens.
“School bus drivers are trusted to transport and protect our children, but this defendant allegedly preyed on a teenage student and sexually abused her both on his bus and at his apartment in Queens,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “This office is committed to prosecuting predators who prey on vulnerable children.”
On Monday, Valley Stream School District Superintendent Wayne R. Looper sent out a letter to members of the community stating that Campos had been “removed by his employer from providing services to the district when the allegations were initially made,” according to a copy of the document obtained by Newsday.
“The safety of our students is our top priority and we have been in close communication with the involved student’s family and are providing any help they may need,” the letter reportedly stated. “Our district condemns in absolute terms the horrific crimes this person is accused of.”
Cheese Bus Inc. released the following statement to Law&Crime through an attorney representing the company:
“This individual is no longer employed by Cheese Bus, Inc. The instant our office was made aware of the District Attorney’s allegations, we removed the individual in question from all bus routes and from any contact with our passengers as we are committed to maintaining safety and security within our community. The individual was suspended indefinitely and terminated shortly thereafter. We have fully cooperated with local law enforcement and remain at the ready should local authorities request further assistance. We have no further comment at this time.”
The law office of Menachem White, representing Campos in the criminal matter, did not immediately respond to an email from Law&Crime.
Campos is due to make his next court appearance on Dec. 12.
Authorities believe Campos may have other victims and urged anyone who may have information to contact the Special Victims Bureau at (516) 571-1266.
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