Elementary Bus Aide Victim: Groping Was 'Unwanted' & 'Terrible'

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — A 71-year-old elementary school bus aide who rode to and from two elementary schools in the Upper Dublin School District had an 8-year-old girl sit on his lap during a bus ride, during which he groped her in her genitals and elsewhere, according to a criminal complaint provided by prosecutors Thursday afternoon.

Kenneth Cannon, of Willow Grove, who worked as a bus aide riding with children attending both the Thomas Fitzwater and Jarrettown Elementary Schools in Upper Dublin, was arrested Wednesday and charged with various criminal offenses in connection with alleged assault on young children.

A criminal complaint signed by Detective Michael Scarpato gives a glimpse into the nature of the allegations against Cannon, who the Upper Dublin School District said was placed on administrative leave pending the police investigation.

Cannon has been out on leave since late May, which is when the district learned of the claims against the defendant.

Upper Dublin Police learned on May 27 of allegations that Cannon was having multiple students, ages 6 to 12, sit on his lap during bus rides to and from school, according to the charging documents.

During the second week in June, a forensic interview was completed with an 8-year-old girl who said that she and other students on the bus to Thomas Fitzwater Elementary would often be invited to sit on Cannon's lap.

In the interview, the young victim described in detail how Cannon would allegedly rub her shoulders, thighs and other body parts, saying the actions were "unwanted" and "terrible."

The victim then said that Cannon rubbed her genitals.

In the criminal complaint, police allege that Cannon said to the girl after the encounter, "do not tell anyone I did this."

Subsequent interviews with other students, ages 6, 7, 8 and 12, told of similar inappropriate incidents, according to the complaint.

The complaint says that students would often refer to the defendant as "Cannonball," and that it was common knowledge that he would invite students to sit on his lap during bus rides to and from school.

Patch reported on the arrest earlier Thursday.

The driver of the bus, meanwhile, who also placed on administrative leave, has not been charged with a crime at this point.

Upper Dublin Police say the driver apparently was unaware of what was taking place at the time of the assaults.

Upper Dublin school transportation employs the use of bus aides on buses where students require special support, according to the district.

This means the incidents in this case occurred on buses where students have some type of disability, whether physical or otherwise.

That story can be found here.