by Blair County, PA – A school bus aide working with the Blair County Head Start program has been arrested and charged after allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl.
Authorities identified the suspect as 28-year-old Brandon Shultz, who reportedly confessed to the inappropriate contact during a police investigation late last month.
According to a police affidavit, the young victim told officers that Shultz asked her to sit on his lap on the day of the alleged incident. Investigators later confirmed that Shultz had been employed by the Head Start program for the past nine years, helping young students on and off the school bus.
Initially, Shultz denied any wrongdoing. However, he later admitted to placing the child on his lap and touching her inappropriately. When questioned about his motive, Shultz allegedly told officers he did it “to make her happy.”
Following a parental complaint, the Community Action Blair County (CABC), which oversees the Head Start program, filed a ChildLine report and immediately placed Shultz on administrative leave. The organization confirmed it is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Blair County court records show that Shultz was arraigned Wednesday evening. He faces multiple serious charges, including felony sexual contact with a student and unlawful contact with a minor.
He is currently being held at the Blair County Prison on $250,000 bail.
