Driver's suspicions pay off
Tip leads to arrest of sex offender trailing bus
By GI SMITH
Staff Writer
ZANESVILLE -- West Muskingum bus driver Christy Kimble had a strange feeling about the black car following her and elementary students on her bus Wednesday afternoon.
The car was following slowly and was too far back for her to read the license plate.
When she reached a stop where a father was waiting for his child, she asked the parent to write down the car's license plate information and contact the West Muskingum School District's bus garage. Bev Cullen, director of special services for the district, reported that information to the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office.
Kimble's intuition led authorities to find out the driver of the black car was released from prison less than three months ago after being deemed a sex offender.
"He is being held currently on technical parole violations and he did have special conditions to not be around children," said JoEllen Culp, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Local parole officials have 10 days to investigate and determine if they are going to charge him with parole violation, Culp said.
Deputy Joe Jenkins investigated the complaint regarding the black Geo Metro following Kimble's school bus. The car was spotted and stopped in the area of Flint Ridge and Pleasant Valley.
Jenkins found the car's driver, Charles Butcher, 37, was on parole and listed as a sexually-oriented offender on Ohio's electronic sex offender Web site. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Butcher was convicted of abduction with a gun specification. To be categorized as a sexually-based offense, the abduction charge must involve a minor.
Muskingum County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Wes Elsonsaid the matter is under investigation and that Butcher could potentially face charges, though there is no indication that he attempted to approach anyone.
"Our school resource officers have contacted all the various school districts with information on this vehicle," Elson said.
Children in the West Muskingum School District were given a letter to give to their parents regarding Wednesday's incident.
Butcher, whose South Zanesville address is listed on the state Web site as 191 Kensington Ave., was convicted in Muskingum County on Sept. 20, 1995. He was sentenced to four to 10 years in prison with a 3-year mandatory sentence stemming from the gun specification.
Muskingum County Deputy Don Yarger said there are more than 80 sex offenders living in Muskingum County. Because Butcher is registered as a sexually-oriented offender and not a sexual predator, officials were limited by the amount of information they were allowed to release.
"It does not require community notification, which is what gets us in a jam," Yarger said.
Chris Smith cares for three Hopewell Elementary School children before and after school in her Hopewell National Road home.
"I put them on the bus in the morning and watch them after school just about every day," she said. "I stay out there with them until they're on the bus and I'm waiting for them when the get off in the afternoon."
Smith saw the letter the school district sent home with the children after Wednesday's incident. She said parents and caregivers need to keep an eye on their children, especially if the child has to walk a long driveway or path to reach home from their bus stop.
"I'm very thankful (the bus driver) was watching," she said.
Smith said she reminds the three children she watches that they have to always remember the rules for being safe.
"I tell them to never talk to strangers -- just to stay away from them -- and if someone comes after them, get away as fast as possible," Smith said.
Marvin Wourms, superintendent of the district, isn't aware of any past occurrences where a registered sex offender has followed a school bus during a route.
Bev Cullen, director of special services in the district, said drivers of the district's 21 routes are trained to watch for dangerous situations -- from erratic drivers to suspicious people at bus stops. She said the drivers transport about 1,500 children.
"I commend the bus driver for being alert," Cullen said. "Their main concern is student safety. They watch over those children as if they're their own. Christy Kimble -- she does deserve a pat on the back for being alert."
gismith@gannett.com
Originally published Saturday, May 15, 2004
Tip leads to arrest of sex offender trailing bus
By GI SMITH
Staff Writer
ZANESVILLE -- West Muskingum bus driver Christy Kimble had a strange feeling about the black car following her and elementary students on her bus Wednesday afternoon.
The car was following slowly and was too far back for her to read the license plate.
When she reached a stop where a father was waiting for his child, she asked the parent to write down the car's license plate information and contact the West Muskingum School District's bus garage. Bev Cullen, director of special services for the district, reported that information to the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office.
Kimble's intuition led authorities to find out the driver of the black car was released from prison less than three months ago after being deemed a sex offender.
"He is being held currently on technical parole violations and he did have special conditions to not be around children," said JoEllen Culp, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Local parole officials have 10 days to investigate and determine if they are going to charge him with parole violation, Culp said.
Deputy Joe Jenkins investigated the complaint regarding the black Geo Metro following Kimble's school bus. The car was spotted and stopped in the area of Flint Ridge and Pleasant Valley.
Jenkins found the car's driver, Charles Butcher, 37, was on parole and listed as a sexually-oriented offender on Ohio's electronic sex offender Web site. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Butcher was convicted of abduction with a gun specification. To be categorized as a sexually-based offense, the abduction charge must involve a minor.
Muskingum County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Wes Elsonsaid the matter is under investigation and that Butcher could potentially face charges, though there is no indication that he attempted to approach anyone.
"Our school resource officers have contacted all the various school districts with information on this vehicle," Elson said.
Children in the West Muskingum School District were given a letter to give to their parents regarding Wednesday's incident.
Butcher, whose South Zanesville address is listed on the state Web site as 191 Kensington Ave., was convicted in Muskingum County on Sept. 20, 1995. He was sentenced to four to 10 years in prison with a 3-year mandatory sentence stemming from the gun specification.
Muskingum County Deputy Don Yarger said there are more than 80 sex offenders living in Muskingum County. Because Butcher is registered as a sexually-oriented offender and not a sexual predator, officials were limited by the amount of information they were allowed to release.
"It does not require community notification, which is what gets us in a jam," Yarger said.
Chris Smith cares for three Hopewell Elementary School children before and after school in her Hopewell National Road home.
"I put them on the bus in the morning and watch them after school just about every day," she said. "I stay out there with them until they're on the bus and I'm waiting for them when the get off in the afternoon."
Smith saw the letter the school district sent home with the children after Wednesday's incident. She said parents and caregivers need to keep an eye on their children, especially if the child has to walk a long driveway or path to reach home from their bus stop.
"I'm very thankful (the bus driver) was watching," she said.
Smith said she reminds the three children she watches that they have to always remember the rules for being safe.
"I tell them to never talk to strangers -- just to stay away from them -- and if someone comes after them, get away as fast as possible," Smith said.
Marvin Wourms, superintendent of the district, isn't aware of any past occurrences where a registered sex offender has followed a school bus during a route.
Bev Cullen, director of special services in the district, said drivers of the district's 21 routes are trained to watch for dangerous situations -- from erratic drivers to suspicious people at bus stops. She said the drivers transport about 1,500 children.
"I commend the bus driver for being alert," Cullen said. "Their main concern is student safety. They watch over those children as if they're their own. Christy Kimble -- she does deserve a pat on the back for being alert."
gismith@gannett.com
Originally published Saturday, May 15, 2004
