Islip school bus driver allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with child under 13, officials say

A school bus driver has been arrested and charged with engaging in sexual conduct with a child less than 13 years old, according to a letter sent out by the Islip school district.

The driver, identified by his attorney as Germis Santos, 37, of Brentwood, was an employee of the Suffolk Transportation Service and started driving routes for the school district on Sept. 2, Superintendent Dennis O’Hara wrote in the letter issued Wednesday.

"This individual was removed from service as soon as our transportation provider learned of the allegation and arrest," O’Hara wrote in the letter. "He will not return to our district."

The district told Newsday the child involved in the alleged incident was not an Islip student.

Suffolk police said Santos was arrested on Sept. 23 and charged with second-degree course of sexual conduct, third-degree sex abuse and acting in a manner to injure a child.

Vess Mitev, Santos' attorney, called the allegations a "classic case of overcharging" and said the evidence does not support a felony charge.

"You have these echo chamber cases and this is a perfect example of that, in my experience," Mitev said.

Mitev said Santos is subject to a hold by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which they are working to resolve. He said his client is in the country legally.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Santos is expected back in court on Oct. 15.

Thomas McAteer, executive vice president of the Suffolk Transportation Service, said Santos has been "removed from service without pay, pending resolution of charges."

McAteer said Santos was hired in March 2024, but it’s unclear which other Long Island districts Santos drove for. He said the driver was vetted, and the company didn’t find anything in his background or reference checks.

"This person had absolutely nothing in their background that would’ve indicated that they would’ve been capable of ... the charges," he said. "That being said, now the process plays out and we will cooperate completely with the district, with the police and the district attorney."

O'Hara said drivers are subject to criminal history screenings through sex offender registries, motor vehicle records and other employment verification checks. He said the district will keep the community informed of any developments.

"I want to reiterate we are taking these accusations extremely seriously, and we remain committed to assuring the safety and well-being of our students," O'Hara said.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office declined to comment.

Newsday's John Asbury contributed to this story.