Orland School Bus Driver Accused Of Sexually Abusing Kids On Bus

ORLAND PARK, IL — A school bus driver for Orland School Dist. 135 was arrested for sexually abusing several children on his bus route, prosecutors said. Arnold Monteclar, 57, of Monee, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney Thursday on three felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and misdemeanor battery. Monteclar worked for the American School Bus Company and has been removed from the route and suspended by the company.

According to police, Monteclar admitted to touching two students. He also told the students that he loved them and this was how he expressed his love, police said.

“He’s a serial child molester in a position of trust,” Mahoney said in court.

Orland Park police said they opened an investigation last month after the principal of Meadow Ridge Elementary School alerted police of the allegations made against the bus driver. Police interviewed at least seven students between the ages of 7 and 11 and determined that Monteclar had sexually abused five boys between March and May, the prosecutor said. The school bus driver is said to have made physical contact with the students above their clothing. Other students interviewed said they had witnessed some incidents, according to police.

Investigators also examined security video on the bus that police said showed Monteclar holding kids on his lap. The prosecutor on Thursday said that in one of the videos, a child could be heard screaming.

Monteclar was arrested at his home June 19.

This is Monteclar’s first brush with the law, the assistant public defender told the judge. Monteclar also scored low on a public safety assessment.

Bail was set at $1 million. Monteclar is due back in court on July 15 in Bridgeview.