MILTON, N.H. — Milton bus driver John Allen Wright pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to six counts of sexual exploitation after being accused of sexually assaulting disabled children and then recording and distributing images of those acts.
Wright, 46, was arrested on Sept. 1, 2011, following a seven-month investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force into his felonious activity. The task force works to identify suspects trading and possessing images of child pornography through online file sharing networks.
The investigation, which began in February 2011, then led to a search warrant for Wright’s home, where computers and peripherals were seized which reportedly contained thousands of graphic assault images.
An investigation concluded Wright used hidden cameras in pens and sunglasses to record students aboard his bus, while he was sexually assaulting them. These activities also occurred when he was transporting children for Provider Services.
Among the files, investigators found several videos depicting Wright sexually assaulting three young disabled boys who were passengers aboard his school bus, operated by Provider Bus Services.
Wright had been a bus driver to families with special needs children in Kittery, Maine, before his arrest. He was charged in September of that year with three counts of felonious sexual assault against the unidentified victims, who reportedly live in both New Hampshire and Maine, as well as approximately 20 other counts, including indecent exposure and lewdness.
Wright now awaits the issuing of a sentence, scheduled for Dec. 20, out of U.S. District Court in Concord. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Wright faces a minimum mandatory prison term of 15 years on each of five counts from the original indictment for six counts of sexual exploitation, and a total maximum prison term of 160 years.
However, with Wright still facing charges against him for the assault of three local boys, Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi told Foster’s Wright has a scheduled status conference in Dover on Oct. 1 for those crimes as well.
“Honestly — I’ll be glad if this one gets put to bed in a fair manner. This is some of the worst materials I have come across in my 13-plus career of prosecuting,” Velardi said. “It’s bad. I hope we’ll get the closure for the families relatively soon.”
Velardi said his office has already offered a plea bargain with “substantial numbers” for Wright’s imprisonment.
“I can’t get into specific numbers — if the federal case includes numbers like the ones we’ve offered on the state level, it is possible to resolve these cases without a state trial,” he said. “It really comes down to what the sense of security is when you’re in the community. Generally, for families who go through the trauma of having a loved one abused, the sentence we (will) always discuss with the families.”
Velardi added the sentencing considered by his office would “preclude Mr. Wright from being a part of general society for his lifetime.”
U.S. Attorney John Kacavas could not be reached for comment before press time and Wright’s defense attorney, Harry Starbranch, did not immediately return calls for comment.
Starbranch originally requested a suppression hearing for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, seeking to throw out some of the prosecution’s evidence he claimed was illegally obtained, but an entry of a guilty plea came forward, with a final pretrial status conference scheduled for 3:45 p.m. later that day.
(c)2012 the Foster’s Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.)
Visit the Foster’s Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) at www.fosters.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Indefensibly ugly behavior from one who the community is taught to trust. I cannot describe the revulsion and contempt I feel for this being.
Justice will truly be served to this subhuman POS by those whom he encounters while on the “inside”
He most likely will be placed in PC or segregated with other sex offenders. I highly doubt he will be placed in general population. The chances of any sort of harm coming to him are very slim.
You know the more I read this paper and see things like this really makes me angry!!! I know you “cant” write anything bad or your flagged…. But, Children, and disabled one’s at that!! This person has some troubles coming his way in jail!!!! Very Sick!!!!!!
Unfortunately there are more than a few like-minded scum in prison he can befriend.
I cant say with this article that “if he is guilty” or innocent until proven guilty…unless the system is so corrupt it is all lies, which it is not. So I would say plea deal this case and give him life in prison without parole. how sick and twisted poor children and their families trusted this man with our most vulnerable …..sick sick man
hope his plea dont change—–Wright now awaits the issuing of a sentence, scheduled for Dec. 20, out of U.S. District Court in Concord.
Did you read the article? U state…”if he is guilty” or “innocent until proven guilty. Ummmmm he is guilty because he plead guilty. I hope he has a miserable life in prison…..
I did read the article and evidentally your education is not in law or constitutional rights. You are “not guilty” until it is proven or your are “found” guilty. The fact that this animal plead guilty is nothing more then a procedure. He still can withdraw his plea at any time. I 100% all the time try and with hold judgement until the court has “found him-her guitly” or innocent. so many times someone has said they did something and then later decided to change their plea. Such as in the case in Dexter where Mindy Gould was killed with the little boy Trevor. The animal plead not guilty and then was found guilty. Prior to his sentencing a man came forward and said he did it and where the gun was. Should we assume an innocent man is in jail? I think NOT.
sometimes people are not “all there mentally” and I wait for the sentencing and findings of the “court” not Bangor Daily or the Prosecuter or the media for my facts
U must be a democrat…..back pedaling and just playing on words. He is guilty because he plead guilty. I believe the judge says something to the like of “Sir/Maam, are you pleading guilty because you are guilty”….bla bla bla. Thats enough in my book…and apparently the U.S. Supreme Crts book….
Incorrect to all you said including your sentence fillers of blah blah blah….silly little you….lol but it is not your fault your not educated in the judicial system or the constitutional rights of Americans
Wright now awaits the issuing of a sentence, scheduled for Dec. 20, out of U.S. District Court in Concord.
However, with Wright still facing charges against him for the assault of three local boys, Strafford County Attorney
He filmed himself in the act and they have that evidence. He plead guilty, most likely because the tapes/photos were explicit and he did not stand a chance in h*ll of getting off.
,
Notihng legally or morally innocent about this POS.
I have to agree with you on what is appears this guy is. But I have not seen the tapes I have not heard a court of law state that these exist. I “assume they do” Bangor Daily is the reporter of the alledged evidence and the prosecuter…and if this is what this animal has plead guilty to then so be it.
He still has to plead in another case. The court of law has to find him guilty and sentence him. Whether he pleads guilty or not. Sometimes a person can plead guilty and the judge rejects the plea becuase of the horrible plea deal…just saying this plea deal could be the deciding factor whether this anaimal withdraws a guilty plea.
It is pretty obvious in this case he is guilty but im stating in GENERAL I find all to often the people here convict someone before the facts are revieled in the court…nobody shouldnt convict off a headline in the bangor Daily and call for someones head on a plate it shows lack of education and knowledge in the rights America was founded by.
This guy needs to be kept away from any kind of decent society for awhile. A long while. To exploit children is bad enough, but he picked the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, and made recordings of it. That is predatory and depraved. To those who would call this sick behavior, I would counter that it is more than that, it is downright evil.
I really don’t want to post this reply 15 times, so for everyone who will write some variation of the following comment: “WAIT UNTIL HE GETS TO JAIL AND THE OTHER PRISONERS FIND OUT WHAT HE DID!” Please see my stock response…
[ You know that’s just an urban legend perpetuated by TV shows, right? There is no “honor among thieves” code where prisoners will brutalize any new inmate they hear has been found guilty of crimes against children. It’s a complete myth.
If a child molester like Wright tends to get more abuse while locked-up than other inmates, it’s because he’s a weak and creepy toad that the alpha males who tend to run things don’t especially tolerate. It has nothing to do with what he did to get put in there. ]
Thank you for the info. You have completely shattered my hopes of you get what you gave.
Jails usually segregate child molestors from the general population because otherwise they end up dead or crippled for life.
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I trust the judgement and actions of actual jailers over some anonymous guy on the internet (you) making claims completely contrary to the way things are done.
Castration
That doesn’t stop them all.
How did this even happen? Why wasn’t there another adult on that bus for supervision especially when there are disabled children aboard? He must have been late dropping the children off at their destination – how come he wasn’t questioned about that? I am disgusted by this.
Thank goodness he is being tried in New Hampshire. It is likely he will never see the free world again (or at least till he is ninety.
probably will get $500 bail and 30 days in jail when convicted
What a despicable excuse for a human being…… I pray that the children and parents get the whatever assistance they need to cope with their trauma.