When public employees entrusted with caring for children are also charged with victimizing them, the stakes are often high. Last week, police arrested Oral Pryce, a Palm Beach school bus driver, and charged him with lewd and lascivious behavior for offering to “drive off with” a teen to “rape her” in exchange for money and a McDonald’s breakfast. Mr. Pryce is being held in Palm Beach County jail and a $75,000 bail has been set. According to the Sun Sentinel News,
A 15-year-old student had that proof. After the school bus driver told the girl he wanted to drive off with her and rape her, the girl decided to record his lewd comments, police said.
Palm Beach County School District Police took him into custody Thursday.
Pryce, 41, a four-year school district employee, was immediately removed from any contact with children when the investigation began, school district chief spokesman Alex Sanchez said.
Police investigators found that the bus driver was already friendly with the Riviera Beach girl, sharing his McDonald’s breakfast, texting her and even diverting his route so he could pick her up in front of her house.
The girl began recording their conversation, police said.
The girl was dropped off at school, where she asked school staff to tell her mom what happened. She arranged for her mom to pick her up immediately.
About 5 p.m. Monday, Pryce started exchanging text messages with her and phoned her, asking her why she hadn’t taken the bus home after school.
Pryce explained that all the time in the past children would make accusations, but there was never any proof,” a detective wrote in the report. “He went on to state that you cannot trust anyone.”
When the police investigation is over, the district will take proper action with Pryce, Sanchez said.
Sanchez said Friday that he didn’t have information about what school Pryce’s route was for.
Police arrested Pryce Thursday. He faces a lewd and lascivious behavior charge and was held in Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.