School Bus Driver Arrested, Charged With Sexually Abusing Minors

ALOHA, OR — A school bus driver in Tigard was arrested earlier this month after police learned he'd sexually abused two girls multiple times between 2008 and 2017, before either was even 12 years old, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Kenneth Manaure Garcia, 32, was taken to the Washington County Jail on several felony and misdemeanor charges, which include sodomy, sex abuse, and unlawful sexual penetration. His bail is set at $225,000.

Garcia, formerly a school bus driver for Student Transportation of America in Tigard, was arrested Feb. 14 and formally charged on a litany of sex crimes Feb. 23 while he was still in custody.

After Washington County law enforcement notified Garcia's employer, he was immediately suspended from his Tigard-Tualatin School District bus route, which included Durham Elementary School and Hazelbrook Middle School.

According to WCSO spokesman Sgt. Bob Ray, detectives do not suspect Garcia harmed or otherwise had inappropriate contact with any students on his bus route. That's not to say there may not be other victims, however.

Detectives encourage anyone who may have information about this case to call 503-846-2500.

Kenneth Garcia booking photo via Washington County Sheriff's Office