Former St. Louis area school bus driver charged with producing child sex abuse materials
Former school bus driver faces child sexual abuse charges KSDK.com
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A Former School Bus Driver Faces Charges of Recording Sexual Abuse of Minors
A former school bus driver from St. Peters, Robert W. Stillwell, aged 66, has been accused of recording the sexual abuse of minors, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri on Friday.
Charges and Indictment
- Robert W. Stillwell is facing two counts of production of child sexual abuse materials.
- The indictment states that Stillwell recorded his sexual abuse of two minors between December 2020 and January 2024.
- He is currently in custody at the St. Charles County Detention Center and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years for each charge.
- In addition to these charges, Stillwell is also facing more than 20 additional child sex charges.
Investigation and School Routes
In April, the St. Charles County Police Department initiated an investigation into Stillwell’s possible unlawful contact with minors during his time as a school bus driver. Due to the nature of his crimes, the department worked with the Francis Howell School District to issue an alert to parents.
The following bus routes were assigned to Stillwell:
2021-2022 School Year
- Route 10 (Bryan Middle)
- Route 40 (Hollenbeck Middle, Bryan Middle, and Castlio Elementary)
2022-2023 School Year
- Route 39 (Hollenbeck Middle, Central Elementary, and Castlio Elementary)
- Route 72 (Francis Howell North, Barnwell Middle, and Harvest Ridge Elementary)
Statement from the Francis Howell School District
The Francis Howell School District provided the following statement in April:
“The District was recently made aware that a former employee is the subject of a child exploitation investigation by the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force. This same individual was also criminally charged earlier this year. However, the former employee has not been employed by the District since May 15, 2023, and there is no indication that the criminal charges against the former employee are related to his previous employment with the District. We have and will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement as they complete their investigation.”
Additional Charges and Investigation Details
According to online court documents, the investigation into Stillwell began in December after a family reported that he sexually assaulted their child. Police served a search warrant at Stillwell’s home in January and discovered numerous files potentially depicting child sexual abuse material. In March, prosecutors amended his initial charges and added 19 additional charges.
It is important to note that none of the court documents indicate that Stillwell met the victims through his role as a school bus driver, although he had contact with hundreds of children over the years.
Contact Information
If you believe your child is affected by this case, please contact the St. Charles County Police immediately. You can reach Detective Anthony Altman with the department’s Cyber Crime Task Force at 636-949-4582 ext. 4582.
To report a crime to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, visit their CyberTipline online.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses the sexual abuse of minors by a former school bus driver. This issue is connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The sexual abuse of minors is a violation of their rights and contributes to gender inequality. Additionally, the article mentions that the former employee is facing criminal charges, indicating a connection to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
- Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
The specific targets under SDG 5 that can be identified are to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres (Target 5.2). The sexual abuse of minors mentioned in the article represents a form of violence against girls.
Under SDG 16, the specific targets that can be identified are to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children (Target 16.2). The sexual abuse of minors by the former school bus driver falls under this target.
Additionally, Target 16.9, which aims to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration, can be relevant to the article as it may be important to identify and protect the victims of the sexual abuse.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
- Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.
- Indicator 16.9.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age.
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators related to the identified targets. However, based on the content, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. This indicator can be used to measure progress in addressing violence against women and girls, including cases of sexual abuse.
Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation. Although the article does not explicitly mention human trafficking, it is relevant to the target of ending all forms of violence against and torture of children. Human trafficking is a form of exploitation and violence against children.
Indicator 16.9.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age. Birth registration is important for identifying and protecting children, especially in cases of abuse or exploitation. Ensuring that all children have legal identity and birth registration can contribute to preventing and addressing child abuse.
4. Table presenting the findings:
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres. | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration. | Indicator 16.9.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age. |
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Fuente: ksdk.com
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