North Penn School District and the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was allegedly choked by a school bus aide have released a pair of statements following the arrest of 72-year-old MacArthur Wilson, of Lansdale, in connection with the incident.
The arrest was announced Thursday morning by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, with a spokesperson stating Wilson had been charged with felony child endangerment along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, strangulation, and related offenses, stemming from the Oct. 16 incident. Investigators allege Wilson struggled with the boy’s seatbelt, then threatened him and choked him for seven seconds. (Read more on the arrest here.)
In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson with North Penn School District provided the following statement Thursday morning:
The North Penn School District is aware of the recent article referencing an alarming incident on a school bus. When the alleged act occurred, the bus driver intervened immediately and then reported the matter to NPSD administration. Parents and the authorities were contacted immediately. The bus assistant involved was also contacted that day and he resigned immediately.
NPSD’s first priority is the safety of our students. We were extremely alarmed by this incident and immediately involved the authorities due to the nature of the report. We will continue to work with local law enforcement to support the prosecution of this case. Additionally, we continue to support the family and the student involved in this situation.
The district provided additional information on Thursday afternoon, via an email to district families from Superintendent Todd Bauer. The email reads, in part:
Dear North Penn Families and Staff,
The North Penn School District is aware of recent news stories referencing an alarming incident on a school bus. We want to make sure that you have accurate information.
The alleged conduct involved a substitute van assistant who was formerly employed by the district. He was hired in October 2022 as a substitute in the transportation department and worked a total of 10 days before his resignation in October 2023.
When the alleged act occurred, the regular bus driver intervened immediately and then reported the matter to the NPSD administration. Parents and the authorities were contacted immediately. The substitute van assistant involved was also contacted that day, and he resigned immediately.
The remainder of the email was a portion of the statement the district had already released to North Penn Now.
The family of the victim, who requested anonymity, also offered a statement via text message praising both North Penn School District and the Montgomery Township Police Department for their handling of the investigation.
"North Penn School District, the bus driver, and Montgomery Township Police went above and beyond to work with us and follow proper procedures in handling this situation,” the family said. "We couldn’t have asked for a better experience in such a horrible situation.”
They also asked that the community respect their privacy, and refrain from going to their home. Sources tell North Penn Now that at least one larger regional news organization had tracked down the family and attempted to interview them in person.
Wilson’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Jan. 9, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy. He remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
See also:
North Penn School Bus Aide Charged with Choking 6-Year-Old Special Needs Student on Bus
Sellersville Man Accused of Stealing More Than $1,000 in Groceries from Hilltown Giant
Hilltown Woman Accused of Pistol-Whipping Neighbor Following Argument Over Dog Poop
Man Arrested for Stealing Nearly $300 Worth of Energy Drinks, Other Merch from Redner’s, Police Say
