Former school bus driver pleads guilty in sex charges

A former Tecumseh Local School District bus driver pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts of gross sexual imposition in a case involving a young student who rode his bus.

Adam James Overholser, 21, of New Carlisle, will be sentenced by Judge Douglas Rastatter on March 13 in Clark County Common Pleas Court on the five counts, all third-degree felonies. A charge of rape and a sixth gross sexual imposition charge were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Driscoll and members of Overholser’s family declined to comment on the case until after sentencing. A pre-sentencing investigation will be conducted.

Overholser’s defense attorney couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

Law enforcement officers have said Overholser befriended the 11-year-old boy and engaged in a pattern of sexual behavior with the child off of school property between May and September of 2013 in Clark, Champaign and Miami counties. The crimes were reported by the child’s mother in December.

After the boy’s mother reported the abuse, a forensic interview was conducted during which the child said he had multiple sexual encounters with Overholser between May and September. Overholser had allegedly developed a friendship with the boy while driving a school bus for Tecumseh schools, officials at the sheriff’s office have said.

Overholser resigned his position with the school district Dec. 4, the same day he was arrested by Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies on school grounds.

School district officials have said Overholser became a bus driver with the district in August and that they didn’t believe the incidents happened on school grounds or during school hours.

Tecumseh Superintendent Brad Martin said Thursday evening that the district is satisfied with whatever the court system decides.

The Ohio Department of Education has suspended Overholser’s license, preventing him from working for any school district.

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