Former Pender County school bus driver convicted of sexual battery

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — A former school bus driver for Heide Trask High School was convicted of one count of sexual battery following a trial in Pender County District Court.

Judge Noecker sentenced Austin Lee Kelly, 32, of Burgaw, to 10 days in jail, with two days to be served immediately and the remaining eight days to be served at a later date.

Additionally, Kelly was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. He is also prohibited from having contact with children unless they are related to him by blood.

The conviction stems from an incident during Kelly’s employment as a school bus driver, during which two students were identified as victims of sexual battery. Kelly was arrested on May 15 and initially charged with two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of his arrest, Pender County Schools confirmed that Kelly was no longer employed by the district, though the Sheriff’s Office indicated that the assaults occurred while he was still employed.

One of the charges against Kelly was dismissed, while the other led to this week’s conviction. The period for filing an appeal has not yet passed, meaning Kelly could potentially appeal the conviction to Superior Court.