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SHAMONG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (FOX 29) - Police have arrested a school bus driver who they say watched pornography in front of children in New Jersey.
Frank Lafortune, 64, of Burlington Township, has been charged with obscenity to minors under the age of 18 and released pending a court appearance.
Staff members from Indian Mills Elementary School were notified about the incident on Monday. Two children informed their parents that they observed Lafortune watching the pornographic video on his phone before exiting the bus around 8:30 a.m. The bus was reportedly parked at the time.
School officials notified law enforcement of incident, leading to Lafortune's arrest.
Lafortune and his wife, who translated his statements from Creole, spoke with FOX 29.
He admits to watching a video but says it was a comedy sent to him from a friend that shows a fight and no nudity.
“We are in shock,” his wife said, who asked to be kept anonymous. “This is out here to dirty our names and we’ve never been in a case like that, this is ridiculous.”
She says Lafortune, a father of three and bus driver of 19 years, had an incident in the past with one of the students who reported him. She claims that the previous incident ended with the student apologizing.
Some parents said they were horrified to hear about the allegations.
“It’s very upsetting, it’s disgusting, it makes me sick to my stomach,” says Jamie Philpot. “That child’s innocence is destroyed and that person should be in jail."