Bus driver accused of molesting students

QUEENS

The youngest victim is just seven-years-old.

Parents are at a loss tonight and teachers Eyewitness News spoke to were outraged.

"It's a terrible thing. I can't believe it. To be molested on the bus," said Gloria Goldblatt.

Prosecutors say the victims were as young as seven and no older than nine.

They were allegedly molested aboard their own school bus, allegedly by their own bus driver.

Investigators say it happened repeatedly over the past several weeks. Until one of the girls reported the abuse.

Prosecutors say the driver routinely took children to and from PS 19 and PS 28 in Corona, IS 5 in Elmhurst and IS 73 in Maspeth.

The suspect is identified by police as 69 year-old Nelson Painchault and worked as a driver for Adrilliz Transport in Queens for 11 years.

The suspect is being held on $100,000 bail, and if convicted could face 7 years in prison.

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