TOMAHAWK, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — A former bus driver with the Tomahawk School District is behind bars after police said he made sexual advances toward a 15 year-old girl.
51 year-old James Schmit, a driver with the contractor for Tomahawk schools for 26 years, is accused of abducting a 15-year-old female student, driving to his house, and causing her emotional distress that led to her becoming physically ill. The girl insisted on returning home and was unharmed after the encounter.
According to police, Schmit had befriended the teen when she rode on his bus route in years past and had occasionally hugged her and gave her gifts.
Schmit allegedly told police that he also had his eye on an eighth grader and would watch the girl’s basketball and softball teams at Tomahawk High School and become sexually aroused.
Schmit is charged with child enticement, abduction of a child and stalking. He’s been jailed on a $100,000 cash bond.
On June 7th, Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies were informed of the incident and have been investigating since that date. Schmit was taken into custody on June 14th.
