Bus Driver, Church Worker Sexually Abused Children In North Bay Shore: Police

NORTH BAY SHORE, NY — A North Bay Shore man has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing two children on multiple occasions, according to Suffolk County police.

Bernardo Amaya, 75, was arrested Tuesday at 5 p.m. at his home on Pine Grove Boulevard, police said.

Investigators said Amaya inappropriately touched an 8-year-old girl in August.

Following an investigation by Special Victims Section detectives, police determined Amaya also touched a 22-year-old victim who was 4 years old at the time of the incident in May and June 2007, police said.

Police said Amaya came into contact with the victims at his home, where a family member worked as a childcare provider.

Amaya has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a Child, police said.

He is being held at the Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip, according to police.

Police said Amaya works at Saint Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood and is also employed as a bus driver for Educational Bus Inc. in West Babylon.

Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Amaya to contact the Suffolk County Police Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.