School bus driver Bernardo Amaya, of N. Bay Shore, faces child sex abuse charges, police say

A school bus driver and former church volunteer from North Bay Shore is facing multiple charges after his arrest Tuesday for allegedly sexually abusing two children — one last summer and another nearly two decades ago, the Suffolk County Police Department said.

In a statement Tuesday, police said Bernardo Amaya, 75, "touched an 8-year-old girl in August." and that while investigating Amaya, Special Victims Section detectives determined he had allegedly touched a then-4-year-old in May and June 2007.

That alleged victim, whom police did not identify, is now 22.

Amaya had access to his alleged victims "at his home where a family member was a child-care worker," police said.

 Charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, Amaya  is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip. Police said he was held overnight Tuesday at the Third Precinct in Bay Shore.

Police said Amaya worked as a bus driver for West Babylon-based Educational Bus Inc.

On Wednesday, Educational Bus spokesman Lloyd Singer told Newsday in an emailed statement: "The charges do not involve his role as a bus driver with Educational Bus Transportation, where he transported high school and middle school students. He has now been terminated from employment as a result of the ongoing investigation."

It was not immediately known which school district was — or, districts were — served by Amaya's routes. Singer told Newsday he would detail that as soon as possible.

Police initially said Amaya also worked at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood, but later clarified Amaya had only been a volunteer.

On Wednesday, Father Eric Fasano, the vicar general for the parish, told Newsday in an emailed correspondence the allegations against Amaya are "not connected" with the parish or parish activities. He also told Newsday any alleged misconduct did not occur on parish property.

In that email, Fasano wrote Amaya was never an employee of St. Luke's, but said he had been a volunteer who "taught adults in a citizenship class" and had served as an usher until last November.

Fasano said parish officials were notified in November that Amaya was under investigation and the parish prohibited Amaya from "participating in any volunteer activities since that time."

"All volunteers undergo background screening and training for abuse prevention," Fasano said: "There is zero tolerance for abuse and all Church employees and volunteers."

Information regarding whether Amaya was being represented by a defense attorney was not available Wednesday.

The police ask anyone with additional information to call the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.