News

Bus driver charged with indecent liberties

By , Published: December 20, 2013

A 70-year-old Apple Country bus driver was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child who had ridden the public transportation bus.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office arrested Johnny Wayne Johnson of 3154 N. Clear Creek Road on Thursday and charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.

Johnson was employed by Western North Carolina Community Action (WCCA) as a driver for Apple Country Transportation at the time of his arrest.

"We did a background check on him in 2003 and at that point there was nothing that came up," said David White, executive director of WCCA. "Some time around 2008-09 the school system would have done a background check because he was working transporting high school students (by Apple Country bus) to the Balfour Center and I'm sure anything would have showed up at that point."

WCCA officials are aware that the victim had ridden the bus, White said. "I think that was where Johnny became familiar with the child and the family," he said. "I do know there were two background checks while he's been employed with us."
He was placed under a $20,000 secured bond and scheduled for a first appearance in Henderson County District Court today. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.