Bus driver pleads guilty

Feb. 12--TRAVERSE CITY -- A teenage girl will be spared the trauma of testifying in a courtroom about a former school bus driver's sexual abuse.

The bus driver -- Larry Gilbert Beutler, 66, of Buckley -- pleaded guilty Feb. 9 to two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration. Beutler's plea came days before he was scheduled to stand trial on three slightly more severe felony sex crime counts.

Judges in the 13th Circuit Court typically don't allow such last-minute plea deals, except to as charged. But Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Bob Cooney said an exception was made because the victim, 14, is developmentally delayed or disabled.

The girl's family also expressed relief she wouldn't have to testify, he said.

"I think that's the big reason the court was willing to go along with that," Cooney said.

Beutler worked for Dean Transportation, which provides bus services for Traverse Bay Intermediate School District, until October when accusations arose he sexually touched the girl. Video footage showed Beutler rubbing the victim's leg and kissing her cheek while his bus was parked in front of Traverse City Central High School, according to court documents.

Prosecutors charged Beutler with three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, but it wasn't the first time local officials raised red flags about Beutler.

Traverse City Area Public Schools officials in February 2017 fired Beutler from being a bus driver for their district. They noted he kissed a student and made their concerns clear in his personnel file, which would be easily seen by future employers.

But Dean Transportation officials didn't read the message and hired Beutler.

The victim was a Traverse City Area Public Schools student.

TBAISD interim Superintendent Jann Jencka said district officials' primary concern is the victim. She said Dean Transportation representatives -- who fired the employee involved in Beutler's hire -- have had to work to regain trust.

"They have taken full and appropriate responsibility for this," she said.

Beutler remained jailed as his case worked through the local court system. He was scheduled to begin trial Monday, but eventually opted to plead guilty to the sexual assault charge.

"In this case, we had some ... more negotiations and we got to a plea we felt was proper in this case," said Beutler's attorney Mattias Johnson.

Johnson said Beutler admitted in court he touched the girl's inner thigh and his actions could be seen as for a sexual purpose.

Cooney said Beutler's new charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

"He is also subject to lifetime sexual offender registry," Cooney said.

Beutler will appear March 9 for sentencing.

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