Former Durham County Public Schools bus driver Kenneth Arnold Thompson, age 25, of Whitsett, NC, has been arrested on allegations of engaging in multiple sexual encounters with a juvenile student, according to officials. The Durham County Sheriff's Office took Thompson into custody yesterday, as reported by CBS17.
Thompson is facing a series of felony charges which, as detailed by WRAL News, include three counts of statutory rape of a child younger than 15, one count of first-degree statutory sex offense, and one count of sexual activity with a student.
WRAL News reached out to Durham Public Schools to inquire about Thompson's past employment status. While transporting children, the accused was believed to be engaged in a sexual relationship with the middle school student, which the victim's mother reported commenced in November 2024. Arrested at a home in Burlington, authorities are currently holding Thompson at the Durham County Detention Facility without bond. His first court appearance scheduled for Thursday, binding Thompson's fate to the unfolding legal process.
The investigation began previously in August when the mother of the female student alleged to the sheriff's office that Thompson had engaged in a sexual relationship with her daughter since November 2024. After deputies investigated the claims and deemed them corroborated, they apprehended Thompson, as ABC11 reports. The shared narrative among the sources outlines a trail of misconduct allegedly stretching back a year, harvests the betrayal of trust that a community places in those charged with the care of its young.
Additional charges may be pending as the investigation by the Durham County Sheriff's Office continues to unfold.
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