BROOKVILLE (EYT) – Disturbing details have emerged in a case involving a former Brookville Area school bus driver facing nearly 200 counts related to the assault and rape of a mentally disabled juvenile.
Court documents indicate 44-year-old Keith E. Reynolds of Brookville was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, on the following charges:
- Rape Mentally Disabled Person, Felony 1 (20 counts)
- Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person With Mental Disability, Felony 1 (20 counts)
- Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses, Felony 1 (20 counts)
- Statutory Sexual Assault: 8-11 Years Older (20 counts)
- Aggravated Indecent Assault – Complainant Suffers Mental Disability, Felony 2 (20 counts)
- Incest of Minor – Complainant 13-18 Years, Felony 2 (20 counts)
- Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 2 (20 counts)
- Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3 (20 counts)
- Indecent Assault Person With Mental Disability, Misdemeanor 1 (20 counts)
According to a criminal complaint filed by Brookville Police Officer Mickey Stormer, the investigation was initiated on April 3, 2019, around 2:35 p.m. when police received a report from Jefferson County Children & Youth Services (CYS) indicating a juvenile female had been sexually assaulted.
The complaint states that Jefferson County CYS was made aware of the alleged abuse after the victim disclosed information to her friends at school and the information was passed along to a school administrator.
The victim, accompanied by Emily Feicht of Jefferson County CYS, was interviewed by Stormer on April 3. During the interview, the victim disclosed that she had sexual intercourse with Keith Reynolds on multiple occasions.
She told police that she began having sexual intercourse with Reynolds on Oct. 13, 2018, at a known business in Brookville. She remembered the date because it was the same day the two attended an event at the business.
The criminal complaint states that the victim told police that she had sexual intercourse with Reynolds approximately 20 times with all but one of the incidents taking place at the known business. The victim told police that Reynolds used condoms and lubrication that were hidden above a ceiling tile.
Reynolds also allegedly watched pornography with the victim on his cellular phone. The phone was later seized as evidence.
The victim told police that the two had sexual intercourse once at a local church where Reynolds served as a part-time janitor.
Explaining the events that led up to the sexual encounters, the victim said that Reynolds told her “you can’t look stupid in front of the one you love,” which she interpreted to mean “she needed to have sexual intercourse with Reynolds in order to practice before she found the person she was going to marry,” according to the criminal complaint.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim said she told Reynolds “no” on each occasion but felt pressured to have sexual intercourse with him.
The victim was able to describe explicit details about the alleged encounters including a description of Reynolds’ genitalia.
Police conducted an interview with Reynolds on April 3 at the Brookville Borough Police Department. When investigators asked Reynolds if he had any “inappropriate contact” with the victim, he said (the victim) always wanted hugs and additional attention from him.
Reynolds reportedly became silent and requested an attorney when investigators asked if he had any other “inappropriate contact” with the victim.
Following the interview, a search warrant was obtained for the known business where the alleged assaults occurred. Police were able to locate condoms, lubricant and other items hidden above a ceiling tile as described by the victim. The items were logged into evidence at the Brookville Borough Police Department.
An interview with the victim’s mother revealed that the girl is mentally disabled and functions at an “8-year-old or 9-year-old level.”
Reynolds was taken into custody on Thursday and lodged in the Jefferson County Jail after failing to post $70,000 cash bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, with Bazylak presiding.
Brookville Area Superintendent Dr. Robin Fillman confirmed that Reynolds was a bus driver for the school district.
She added that “this was not something that happened while (Reynolds) was working for the district, and it did not happen on the bus.”
Once the district learned of the allegation, the bus company was contacted, and Reynolds was suspended on Wednesday evening from driving for the school.
Read more: http://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/.