Officials: Bus driver for Granite School District arrested for groping teen student

August James Shell. Photo: Salt Lake County

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Feb. 1, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A bus driver for the Granite School District was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual battery after officials said he groped a student.

District officials say 21-year-old August James Shell finished his morning run and at 9 a.m. Wednesday, pulled over his bus near 1332 W. 4800 South, Taylorsville.

Shell then walked over to a 16-year-old male Taylorsville High student who was walking to school.

“In course of the brief conversation, the suspect allegedly groped the victim over the clothes,” Granite School District officials said.

According to a probable cause statement, Shell approached the victim and asked if he wanted to smoke.

“Victim stated that he thought Shell was law enforcement and said no,” the police statement says. “Shell grabbed victim’s genitals and outside of his pants, and then ran back to the school bus and drove away. Under Miranda warning, Shell stated that he grabbed the victim by the genitals.”

Shell has since resigned from the school district, officials say. Sexual battering is a class-A misdemeanor.

Police and Granite School District officials hope any additional victims of Shell will come forward and share their information.

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