A man who was employed as a bus aide is being accused of inappropriately touching a six-year-old child in October. Raymond Matthew Cook, 51, of St. Paul, faces a felony charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to a case filed Friday in Washington County District Court. 

The incident occurred on a school bus on Oct. 22. The court document states the child’s mother told Woodbury police officers that her son had said he did not like riding the bus home from school because of a bus aide. She reported that on that day the aide inappropriately touched her son through his pants for several seconds.

The driver told officers he was “weirded out” by the defendant’s behavior including how close he was sitting next to the child. The complaint states that a review of video from a surveillance camera showed the defendant seated next to the child and repeatedly leaning into his seat and reaching toward the boy. The child “at one point makes a screeching sound, turns his body away from the defendant, and says ‘it’s your fault,’ “ according to the complaint.

South Washington County Schools sent a message to parents this week about the incident. The district states that it contracts with Big River Bus Company to provide transportation for a small number of its students. “Employees of the bus company are not employees of the school district,” the statement emphasizes.

The statement also pointed out that the bus aide has not been on a bus that serves the district since Oct. 22. The district declined to identify which school the child attends.

In a statement to Woodbury News Net, district spokesman Shawn Hogendorf said Big River Bus Company contacted South Washington Schools on Oct. 23 and shared that its review of the surveillance video from the bus did not find evidence that the aide had acted inappropriately. 

The statement added:

“South Washington County Schools would not share information with families when the only information it had received indicated that the allegations were not substantiated. Additionally, the District knew the matter had been reported to law enforcement.

“South Washington County Schools has a high level of respect for the Woodbury Police Department. South Washington County Schools understood that if the aide presented a risk of harm to another child, law enforcement would have notified the District, contacted other potential victims, or requested that school officials ask families to talk with their children about the incident and then contact the police with any concerns.

South Washington County Schools must trust law enforcement’s expert discretion in these types of situations, particularly since the aide was not an employee of the District, and school officials had no means of obtaining additional information about the aide or the investigation.”

Pat Regan, president of Big River Bus Company, said Cook is suspended at least until the court proceedings are completed.

His statement on behalf of the company: “Student safety is our number one priority. Upon learning of an alleged incident involving a bus aide on one of our buses on October 22, 2024, Big River Bus Company immediately removed the employee in question from all student contact. We maintain strict employee screening standards to provide a safe environment for our passengers. All employees pass state and federally mandated background checks. We will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

Cook is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 12. He has not yet entered a plea.