Howard County Bus Aide Charged In Sexual, Physical Assault Of Nonverbal Students

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — An 80-year-old school bus aide has been accused of assaulting and sexually abusing two nonverbal students.

While investigating one incident, Howard County Police uncovered a second incident. They were informed of an assault involving a nonverbal student on a bus and pulled the video. Detectives found evidence of Albert Rice, Jr. hitting a 13-year-old nonverbal student and also found that Rice hit, and inappropriately touched, another 13-year-old student, Howard County Police told WBAL.

"She has special education needs, she is autistic, she is nonverbal. She communicates through a tablet (and) can only communicate through a tablet," said Ellen Flynn, the Yost Legal Group attorney representing the second victim. "So, she's a particularly vulnerable girl. My understanding is, based on what they've seen on the video, she was hit and she was inappropriately touched."

According to charging documents obtained Friday by 11 News Investigates, video showed the incident in which a teenager hit Rice, who then hit the teen when she was secured in a seat belt. The charging documents state Rice admitted to investigators that he was frustrated with the victim when he hit her in the face.

"My understanding is, there's a driver and an aide, because these particular children need an aide on the bus with them. The assault happened from the aide," said Flynn. "We understand it was complained about when someone on the bus was able to communicate in some way that they had been hit. My client, did not, was not, able to communicate like that. So, we found out about her assault by the videos that were reviewed by the detectives in Howard County."

Rice works as an aide for Bowen Bus Services, which provides transportation for students at the Linwood Center, a non-public special education program in Ellicott City. The school told WBAL that Rice is not employed by them and they have nothing to do with transportation provided to the school.

Rice was arrested Thursday and is currently in the booking process, according to WJZ. He has been charged with assault and fourth-degree sex offense in connection to the two offenses. Police told WBAL they do not believe there are other victims but ask that anyone with information call detectives at 410-313-STOP or email HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.