Child sexual assault trial; Pewaukee school bus driver takes stand
Bus driver testifies at child sex assault trial
Thomas Felser took the stand Wednesday, May 6, in his own defense during the third day of his child sexual assault trial in Waukesha County.
PEWAUKEE, Wis. - Thomas Felser took the stand Wednesday, May 6, in his own defense during the third day of his child sexual assault trial in Waukesha County.
What we know:
The former Pewaukee school bus driver, 63, is accused of sexually assaulting four girls between the ages of 4 and 6 on his bus last year.
The state rested its case Wednesday morning, and the defense wrapped its case later in the afternoon ahead of closing arguments Thursday.
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Before Felser testified, defense attorney Craig Powell challenged parts of the state’s case and questioned Village of Pewaukee Police Detective Craig Drummy about testimony tied to surveillance video shown to jurors.
What they're saying:
"Is your testimony his hand is on or near?" Powell asked.
"On," Drummy replied.
"Your eyes are more accurate than what she feels?" Powell asked.
"My eyes saw what I saw," Drummy said.
Jurors also watched surveillance video from Felser’s school bus and heard a recorded interview with a 4-year-old girl.
The preschooler told investigators Felser placed her on his knee and touched her private areas, making her feel uncomfortable.
When Felser later took the stand, he denied putting his hand down a girl’s pants.
Police said the alleged assaults happened while Felser worked as a school bus driver in Pewaukee last year.
Felser testified he played a game with one student where she would move the dial on his watch and pretend to go to sleep.
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But when prosecutors asked whether he had kissed the girl before, Felser responded, "I believe I might have kissed her on the forehead."
When asked whether he had heard the term "grooming" before, Felser said, "I think so."
Dig deeper:
Prosecutors also questioned Felser about surveillance footage shown to the jury.
When asked why his hand appeared to be up a girl’s skirt in the footage, Felser testified he was checking whether the girl had wet her pants.
Felser faces 11 felony charges, including repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual misconduct by school staff or a volunteer. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
Child sexual assault; Pewaukee school bus driver trial continues
Prosecutors played child interviews and bus audio Tuesday in Thomas Felser’s trial, adding testimony about the case and how one mother found him alone with her daughter.
The Source: FOX6 News was in attendance on Wednesday, and referenced information from the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circut Court, as well as prior coverage of Felser's case, for this report.