School bus driver charged with rape

Friday, May 29, 2009

James Westley Rainey, 39, and his wife were family friends of the girl, court documents state.

In early March, the teen was watching a NASCAR race with Rainey when he started poking her in the stomach and asking her if she wanted to have sex, the court papers show.

She told police she was shocked and left the room, according to the documents.

The girl turned down another sexual advance that Rainey made in early April, but she agreed to have sex with him on the following weekend, when she was spending the night at his home, the report indicated.

They had sex again two more times in April, according to the court papers.

The teen told a teacher about the incidents, and sheriff's officers began investigating the alleged sexual abuse, the report showed.

Officers set up a monitored telephone call between the victim and Rainey on May 21, in which the man admitted to having sex with the girl, according to court papers.

He was arrested the same day and charged with three counts of second-degree rape, two counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, four counts of second-degree child abuse, second-degree assault, three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of adultery, two counts of third-degree sex offense and reckless endangerment.

Rainey has worked for eight years as a driver and mechanic for Stanley Bus Company Inc., based in Marbury, he wrote in court records.

The Charles County Board of Education contracts with the company to drive school buses, and Rainey transported students from Henry E. Lackey High School, North Point High School and Mary H. Matula Elementary School, according to public school spokeswoman Katie O'Malley Simpson.

Although Rainey wasn't employed directly by the board of education, he did need certification to transport students. Since the charges have been filed, county public schools have withdrawn Rainey's certification, and he is no longer driving students, according to O'Malley Simpson.

Parents of students on Rainey's route were notified of the charges, O'Malley Simpson said.

"My reaction was, ‘Why is this person transporting our children?'" said Sherry, the mother of a Mary H. Matula Elementary School student, who asked not to be identified by her last name.

She said she asked her children about their interactions with Rainey, whom they knew as "Mr. James," but that the letter given to parents didn't list his charges.

"It was a little frustrating that I didn't get more information," she said.

Rainey has a conviction for obtaining alcohol for a minor in 1992 and was charged with writing a bad check in 2001.

A woman who answered the phone at Rainey's listed work number declined to comment on the charges.

Staff writer Gretchen Phillips contributed to this report.

brodgers@somdnews.com