A former school bus driver for Maricopa County's Nadaburg Unified School District has been arrested on suspicion of multiple offenses related to child molestation. Charles Ellington, who was employed by the district from August 26, 2021, until his termination on October 8, 2025, faces charges that include molestation of a child, sexual conduct with a minor, and failure to comply with a court order. As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, Ellington's arrest occurred on December 1, following an investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Upon learning of the investigation on September 3, Nadaburg Unified School District swiftly placed Ellington on administrative leave and later proceeded to swiftly issue a notice of termination on September 11. The district has emphasized their full cooperation with law enforcement during the investigation and has identified and is supporting all victims involved. In a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, Superintendent Dr. Aspasia Angelou said, "Throughout this process, Nadaburg USD has fully cooperated with the Sheriff’s Department and provided any information necessary to support their work."
Ellington passed all necessary background checks as required by the district, raising concerns over the effectiveness of screening processes. According to the school district, employees undergo rigorous checks, including fingerprint clearance cards issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). "All Nadaburg staff are required to maintain a valid DPS-issued fingerprint clearance card, and the District goes further by requiring clearance through an additional independent background service," Angelou explained, as noted in the district's letter to parents cited by AZ Family. During his employment, Ellington held a valid CDL, maintained a clean drug and alcohol testing record, and had an active fingerprint clearance card.
Details of the allegations have yet to be publicly disclosed, but the district reassured parents and guardians about the seriousness with which it takes student safety. "The safety and wellbeing of every student is the highest responsibility of the District," Angelou mentioned, based on information from AZ Family. The district continues to engage families directly, maintaining transparency, whilst striving to uphold the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Ellington was booked into jail on December 2, following his arrest.
