BURRILLVILLE – A 62-year-old bus monitor is facing charges following reports from several students of inappropriate conduct including sexualized gestures and inviting them to his home to smoke marijuana.
Gerard Parenteau of Burrillville was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to the arrest report, police received an email from Supt. Michael Sollitto and a supervisor from DATTCO bus company informing them of a sexual harassment complaint from a student. A 15-year-old had reportedly shown school officials a picture she had taken of Parenteau making a sexualized gesture, and described an inappropriate conversation in which he offered students, “free weed,” if they went to his house.
Parenteau was reportedly placed on suspension pending an investigation and denied allegations of wrongdoing, but resigned from his position at the bus company soon after.
During an investigation, police reportedly interviewed several 14 and 15 year-old students who described Parenteau talking about sexual experiences, making lewd gestures and offering them drugs.
Parenteau was released on a summons to appear in the RI 6th District Court at a later date.
