This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Canyon School District bus driver has been charged with sexually abusing a child.
John Martin Carrell, 61, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with 23 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Each count carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
The abuse allegedly occurred from late February to late April. The investigation began after a 5-year-old girl mentioned the alleged abuse to a relative, according to the charges.
It appears from the charges that she is the only victim.
Canyons School District put Carrell on leave April 24, the day after hearing allegations that he abused Altara Elementary School students. Carrell later resigned, said Canyons School District spokeswoman Jennifer Toomer-Cook.
Before submitting their case to prosecutors, a Sandy police detective spent 40 hours reviewing surveillance footage from three months of bus rides, said Police Sgt. Jon Arnold.
"The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office thanks the Sandy Police Department and Canyon's School District for their assistance and cooperation during the investigation of this matter," the attorney's office said in a statement.
Sandy police have Carrell in custody and he will be booked into Salt Lake County jail, Arnold said. His bail is set at $3 million cash only.
Draper police also were investigating Carrell after they received a call last week from a concerned parent who said Carrell also had a Draper bus route, said Draper Deputy Police Chief John Eining.
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