ONEIDA COUNTY -- A bus driver in the Holland Patent School District has been charged in connection with the rape of a female student, after state police say he provided his 23-year-old son access to the girl in the Town of Trenton.
Troopers say 44-year-old Michael Newland, Sr. kept a 16-year-old girl past her scheduled stop and went off route to make an unauthorized stop to visit his son, 23-year-old Michael Newland, Jr. Troopers say Newland, Sr. gave the girl his son’s phone number and, later that same day, say Newland, Jr. engaged in sexual activities with her.
Newland, Jr. has been charged with third degree rape and criminal sexual act in the third degree. He was arraigned in the Town of Trenton Court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail.
Newland, Sr. was issued an appearance ticket and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child. State police say the charge stems from the fact Newland, Sr. provided his son access to the girl while he was working as a bus driver. Troopers say as a bus driver, he had been entrusted with care of custody of her by the school district.
During the investigation, police say another girl came forward alleging Newland, Sr. sexually abused her. Police say it happened in 2009 at Newland, Sr.’s residence in the Town of Ohio in Herkimer County. In this case, he was also the girl’s bus driver and allowed his son the opportunity to meet her.
Newland, Sr. has been charged with one count of sexual abuse in the third degree and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. He’s due in Town of Ohio court November 23.
State Police request anyone who has had similar incidents with the Newlands to contact Investigator Andrew Wilmot at 315-366-6000.
