Prosecutor: Bus driver sexually assaulted several women with developmental disabilites

A California bus driver sexually abused three disabled women he was hired to transport, Orange County prosecutors alleged.

Jon Francis Farris, 57, was arraigned on multiple sexual assault charges on Friday. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Tustin Police Department arrested the 57-year-old at his home early Wednesday.

Police Lieutenant Jon Strain claimed that Farris’ arrest came about two weeks after a resident allegedly passed by his bus, “saw something suspicious,” and contacted the bus company, according to The Orange County Register (OCR). From there, his employer supposedly called police.

According to The Times, Farris was responsible for driving clients of the Regional Center of Orange County, a private, nonprofit organization that offers support and treatment to individuals with developmental disabilities. Authorities said that all the three adult women involved in this case have the mental capacities of children, KTLA reported.

“This news is very upsetting to everyone in our community, and tragic for the victims and their families,” Regional Center of Orange County executive director Larry Landauer said in a statement obtained by The Times. “Our team is working closely with law enforcement to assist them with their investigation, and our hope is that justice will be done.”

The suspect wasn’t employed by a specific organization. Instead, he worked as a contractor, taking people with disabilities to doctors appointments, the pharmacy or anywhere else they needed to go, Lt. Strain said.

The officer didn’t disclose whether they believed Farris attacked the women once or on a regular basis. The OCR pointed out that Tustin Police also didn’t provide specific details of how Farris abused the women. Though the organization claimed they’re in contact with the victims’ families, investigators are unsure if Farris had other victims.

Lt. Strain said that the Garden Grove man was booked into Orange County Jail and being held in lieu of $100,000 bail

[Featured Image: Tustin Police Department]