School bus driver child sex assault trial, jury reaches split verdict
School bus driver child sex assault trial, jury reaches split verdict
A Waukesha County jury reached a split verdict in the case involving Thomas Felser, a former Pewaukee school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting four girls between the ages of four and six on his bus in 2025.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A Waukesha County jury reached a split verdict in the case involving Thomas Felser, a former Pewaukee school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting four girls between the ages of four and six on his bus in 2025.
A jury found Felser guilty of eight of the 11 felony charges after deliberating for five hours and two minutes.
Trial and verdict
What we know:
There were four victims in this case, and the jury found Thomas Feller guilty of sexually assaulting each one of them.
However, the jury delivered "not guilty" verdicts for three counts of lesser felonies of "sexual misconduct by school staff or volunteer."
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Thomas Felser in court on Thursday, May 7.
It was standing room only in the courtroom as the verdict came down.
FOX6 watched as the mother of one victim sat shaking, with a tissue covering her face.
Last spring, Village of Pewaukee police say Thomas Felser sexually assaulted girls between the ages of four and six years old.
It happened while he was their school bus driver for GO Riteway Transportation.
Each of the girls told investigators what happened to them. Calling him "Mr. Tom," one girl said Felser quote, "Puts my hand in my private parts." Others said Felser made them sit on his lap.
Thomas Felser in court on Thursday, May 7.
The jury saw bus surveillance video of Felser putting his hand under a girl’s skirt.
Under oath, Felser said he was checking to see if the girl wet her pants.
The lead prosecutor on this case acknowledged the bravery of all four young victims for speaking out.
"We’re very thankful for the investigators from the Village of Pewaukee Police Department and really, we are thankful for how brave these girls have been in this process," said Prosecutor Vivien Morris.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 24. Just one of the child sexual assault charges carries a penalty of up to 60 years in prison, which could make it, effectively, a life sentence.
Verdict breakdown
What we know:
- Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st Degree Sexual Assault) (Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Not Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Not Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Guilty)
- Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st Degree Sexual Assault) (Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Not Guilty)
- Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st Degree Sexual Assault) (Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Guilty)
- 1st Degree Child Sex Assault - Sexual Contact or Sexual Intercourse w/ Person under Age of 13 (Guilty)
- Sexual Misconduct by School Staff or Volunteer (Guilty)
Case recap
The backstory:
Felser's trial began on Monday morning, May 4. Prosecutors spent the week showing bus surveillance videos and recorded interviews with the girls. Police say Felser repeatedly touched some of the girls. Video shows Felser reaching out and putting his hand up one girl’s skirt.
Thomas Felser
Felser testified Wednesday, May 6, and said he was checking to see if the girl wet her pants. His defense attorney argued this was all a misunderstanding – that Felser was a well-liked bus driver and a former teacher for more than three decades. The defense told the jury the kid’s statements were tainted – pointing to one girl’s recollection that Felser touched her wearing a glove.
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Child sexual assault trial; Pewaukee school bus driver takes stand
Thomas Felser testified Wednesday, May 6, in his child sexual assault trial, denying allegations he assaulted girls while working as a Pewaukee school bus driver.
Felser’s attorney says there are no videos of him wearing a glove.
Dig deeper:
Felser faces 11 felony charges, including repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual misconduct by school staff or a volunteer. For charges of repeated sexual assault of a child, the state must prove at least three instances of sexual assault for each victim.
Felser has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the criminal complaint associated with this case, and previous trial coverage on FOX6 News.