School Van Driver Accused Of Fondling Young Girls

BEAVER (KDKA) -- Police arrested a local school van driver.

The driver, 54-year-old Earl Peacock, of Beaver Falls, is facing new charges of having inappropriate contact with girls.

He was originally arrested last week after having a sexual conversation with a 7-year-old girl on the van and charged with endangering the welfare of children and unlawful restraint.

Tuesday, Peacock was charged with aggravated indecent assault and indecent exposure. The new charges come from an incident in December with an 8-year-old girl.

Officials also confirm there could be a third victim – a 13-year-old who just came forward. No charges have been filed in that case.

Beaver School District Superintendent Dr. John Hansen says Peacock passed all of the background checks and had been driving for less than two years.

The 7 and 8-year-old victims were students at College Square School in Beaver. Parents of students there are reacting with shock and disgust.

"It's horrendous – it's absolutely absurd," Christine Regan said. "I can't believe that something like that could happen here."

"That really upsets me," Brian Bose said. "I mean, he takes the bus every day and I don't like to hear things like that."

"Like any grandparent, if you were able to – you want to hurt the person because there's nothing you want more than to protect your children or your grandchildren," Ruth Long said.

Peacock, now in the Beaver County Jail, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday. He has been fired from P. Ferguson Transportation.

Dr. Hansen says, "We are reacting like a parent would – with shock, sadness and anger. We will do our due diligence. We are checking all of the routes the driver drove. We are talking to parents and children. We are deeply concerned about our children."

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