Man, 49, arrested for child sex abuse

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former bus driver for the North Santiam School District is in the Marion County jail, accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old.

Even though district officials say the victim is not part of the district or a passenger on Charles Smelser’s bus, one parent is upset the district didn’t notify them.

“I was scared,” says April Crawford. “I was angry.”

Crawford’s daughter was a passenger on Smelser’s route. He was arrested in early March, but Crawford only learned of the arrest after her daughter heard a rumor.

“She googled the Marion County [jail] roster and found him there.”

Mid-Columbia bus manager Ken Carey tells KOIN 6 News Smelser was fired on March 4.

Court documents indicate the abuse happened between September of 2015 and March 2016 while Smelser was staying with relatives in Silverton. He remains in jail on $1 million bail.

Meanwhile, Crawford continues to wait for a statement from the district superintendent.

“I called and I’ve been told they are in meetings,” she says. “We are supposed to all be working in a team, to protect our children and I really feel like they fell short in that area.”