(McKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: February 19, 2026): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a former Bradford Area School District bus driver has pled guilty to Child Porn, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse against a Child, and other charges after an investigation was initiated after the police received a report that he was photographing some of the children on the school bus after having them pose in provocative poses. 

Sean Edward WILLIAMS, formerly of Duke Center but currently held at the McKean County Jail, pled guilty during a plea hearing held at the courthouse on February 19th to charges stemming from his acts on the school bus and other crimes. WILLIAMS pled guilty to Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse against a Child (deviate sexual intercourse/oral sex), Tampering with Evidence, Sexual Abuse of Children (Child Pornography -6 children under age 10), Corruption of Minors, Unlawful Contact with a Minor, and Endangering Welfare (6 children during a course of conduct).

The District Attorney told the court that WILLIAMS was a school bus driver as well as a foster parent and, over a two-year period from January 1, 2024, to November 4, 2025, he committed the crimes. DA Vettenburg-Shaffer told the Court that WILLIAMS was a person responsible for the welfare of children on his bus, and he violated that duty of care to specific children on his bus by having them pose in photographs that were provocative for the purpose of his own sexual gratification and retained the photographs.

During the investigation, police discovered that WILLIAMS possessed six photographs of child pornography of children under the age of ten and he was intentionally in contact with a minor for the purpose of engaging in the crime of sexual abuse (child pornography).

The case was investigated by Officer Tony Lama of the City of Bradford Police. As a result of the investigation, Officer Lama was in consultation with the Pennsylvania State Police for crimes that occurred outside of Bradford City.  Thereafter, by criminal complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Sierra Rooke, WILLIAMS was  charged with Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse on a 1-year-old child for engaging in oral sex on the child while he was a foster parent.

WILLIAMS also removed and destroyed a camera and hard drive on his school bus for the purpose of removing the camera footage from availability for the criminal investigation. After the District Attorney read the facts into the record, WILLIAMS told the Judge he was guilty of the crimes.

The District Attorney gave notice that it was her intention to seek the higher sentence as provided for by two sentencing provisions of the sentencing code to seek the maximum penalty on WILLIAMS.DA Vettenburg-Shaffer explained: “The crimes committed by WILLIAMS require a lifetime registration as a sexual offender under the law formerly known as Megan’s Law.

The crimes require that, additionally, he undergo an evaluation with the Sexual Offender Assessment Board to determine if he meets the definition of a Sexually Violent Predator. The Board has 90 days to complete the evaluation, which must be completed prior to sentencing.” Sentencing has been preliminarily set for June 4th. DA Vettenburg-Shaffer urges anyone who suspects child abuse to call 911 and report it to Childline child abuse hotline at 1-800-932-0313.  Services for victims are available by calling the YWCA of Bradford at 1-888-821-6325. Created Feb 19, 2026 @ 3:25 PM McKean County DA 500 W Main St Smethport, PA 16749 English

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/mckean/da/136029/post/former-bradford-school-bus-driver-pleads-guilty-sex-crimes