North Orange County Bus Driver Accused Of Sexually Abusing Special Needs Women

GARDEN GROVE, CA — A bus driver from Garden Grove accused of sexually assaulting three mentally disabled passengers was seen in court, Friday according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. His arraignment was rescheduled Friday for May 19.

Western Transit Systems contract driver, 56-year-old Jon Farris, was assigned to a route for disabled clients from the Regional Center of Orange County, OCDA's office said.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defendant dropped off one client in Tustin on March 23 and then parked the bus nearby, where he allegedly sexually assaulted three other women passengers, according to prosecutors.

A witness who saw the bus parked for several minutes grew concerned and checked on the vehicle, then called the bus company, which notified police, prosecutors said.

Farris, who was arrested Wednesday and held on $100,000 bail, could face 11 years in prison if convicted of one count each of oral copulation of an incompetent person and forcible oral copulation, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of touching an intimate part of another person.

Each of the alleged victims has the mental capacity of a child, according to Tustin police Lt. John Strain.

Police asked anyone with information on potential victims to call detectives at (714) 573-3200 or (714) 573-3372.

Tustin Police Department Photo