School bus driver accused of molesting girls to stay jailed

KINNELON, N.J. (AP) — A school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting two young female students during daily games of “hide-and-seek” on the bus will remain jailed pending his trial, a judge has ruled.

The decision came Monday after Morris County prosecutors claimed Thomas Thomasevich, 70, of Oakland, had groomed the children to be cooperative and play the game, and also manipulated them to be silent. His lawyer had argued his client should be freed, citing his “spotless” record and family ties to the area, and described the allegations against Thomasevich as a “huge misunderstanding.”

Thomasevich has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault, two counts of child endangerment and six counts of cruelty and neglect of children.

The sexual assaults began last October and continued near-daily until one of the girls spoke with guidance counselors on Jan. 17, authorities have said. The girls were under the age of 13 and attended school in Kinnelon.

The sexual abuse occurred on the bus after Thomasevich parked at the school and allowed the children to play “hide and seek,” authorities said. He arrived at the school early enough that the students remained on the parked bus, authorities said, and used the opportunity to commit the assaults. Thomasevich also bribed the girls with candy and donuts so they would not reveal what was happening, authorities said.