Colbert school bus driver arrested for child porn

ATOKA COUNTY, Okla. (KXII) - A Colbert Public Schools teacher’s aide and bus driver was arrested for possession of child pornography in Atoka County.

Colbert Public Schools Superintendent Jarvis Dobbs says he was shocked to learn one of his bus drivers had been arrested.

“I was contacted the night he was arrested by law enforcement.”

On January 2nd, Charles Lee Forester, 52 was reportedly found in possession of child pornography.

Dobbs said “[Forester] did his job well, he was never a problem.”

Not only does Forester drive the school bus, but he is also a teacher’s aid.

“I had one parent call me and I talked to them and they were surprised, shocked cause they said their student said ‘Charlie, we all like him,’” added Dobbs.

Authorities on both sides of the Red River were involved in the arrest. That’s because Forester has an address in Oklahoma and Texas .

“This was kind of like a sting investigation, set up out of Texas and then they had Atoka County to arrest,” Dobbs said.

“He was asked if he had unlawfully obtained or possessed or distributed any child pornography and he had advised that he had,” Atoka County Sheriff Tony Head said.

Superintendent Dobbs said Forester was never left unattended with children as every bus had two cameras inside.

“You see the driver, you see the students, you can hear, it’s got sound on it, so yeah they’re well protected on the buses,” Dobbs said.

And as far as overnight field trips, Dobbs said Forster’s wife was always there as she’s a teacher for Colbert Public Schools.

“I contacted his wife and told her, he’d be suspended with pay until further notice and he was not to come back on school grounds,” Dobbs added.

Forester’s bail is set at $750,000. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in jail.

“It is possible that more charges could be following,” Sheriff Head told News 12.

This is a developing story.

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