Dad testifies against bus driver accused of sex abusing girl

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man says he first thought bullies were behind his daughter’s hesitation to ride the school bus when she was 8 years old. Instead, she told him she was being sexually abused by the bus driver.

News outlets report the girl’s father testified Monday at Sergio Sandoval’s retrial. The man said his daughter told him in 2014 that Sandoval was shoving his hands down her pants and touching her. Sandoval is charged with touching a child for lustful purposes.

Video shows the second-grader being called to the front of the bus and returning with candy.

Sandoval fainted at his first trial, causing a mistrial. Doctors said he faked it. His lawyers say he suffers from amnesia and doesn’t remember his eight years as a bus driver.