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MacArthur Wilson, 72, of Lansdale, is free on bail and awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Strangulation and Endangering the Welfare of Children on Wednesday, Oct. 16, updated court documents state.
A sentencing date was not listed in court records at press time.
Wilson began strangling the student when they were about one minute away from the boy's stop after the bus driver told Wilson to sit with him on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, previous reporting by Daily Voice states.
The bus was in Montgomery Township at the time, according to the report.
A few minutes after Wilson sat with the boy, the driver told police she saw him "struggling with a seat belt" before placing his hands around the boy's neck for "approximately five to eight seconds," the affidavit states.
When the driver told Wilson to stop, he said that the boy had hit him and he needed to teach him a lesson, according to the affidavit. On security footage from the bus, Wilson can be heard asking the boy, "Do you want me to choke you out?" while his hands are placed on the child's neck.
The bus driver reported the incident to her supervisors as soon as she returned to the bus yard, the affidavit states. The boy's parents also called police when their son came home "visibly distressed" and with red marks on his neck.
Wilson surrendered to Montgomery Township police on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, and was released after posting a $5,000 bond, court records show.
North Penn School District released the following statement immediately following the incident:
The North Penn School District is aware of the recent article referencing an alarming incident on a school bus. When the alleged act occurred, the bus driver intervened immediately and then reported the matter to NPSD administration. Parents and the authorities were contacted immediately. The bus assistant involved was also contacted that day and he resigned immediately. NPSD’s first priority is the safety of our students. We were extremely alarmed by this incident and immediately involved the authorities due to the nature of the report. We will continue to work with local law enforcement to support the prosecution of this case. Additionally, we continue to support the family and the student involved in this situation.
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