ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER
A former Bedford County school bus driver has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 9-year-old boy.
Walter W. Pugh, 34, of Moneta entered Alford pleas Friday in Bedford County Circuit Court to one felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child and one charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor.
An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges that the evidence is strong enough to convict the defendant.
No sentencing date has been set. Pugh faces a maximum of five years in prison. He also had faced a more serious felony, aggravated sexual battery, which was dropped in exchange for his plea, Bedford County Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz said.
Pugh was arrested in June after a complaint from the Bedford County Department of Social Services. He was accused of asking the child to fondle him and showing the boy pornographic videos, Krantz said. The incident was not related to Pugh's job and the boy was not one of the children on his bus route.
Pugh, who passed a criminal background check required of school employees, was suspended from his job when school officials became aware of the investigation.
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