Category: Crime
School bus driver for special-needs students allegedly shared brutal child sex abuse material online
New Mexico law enforcement says an online tip about child sex abuse material led to the arrest of a school bus driver for special-needs students.
Patrick Bilbo was arrested Friday at the Albuquerque Public Schools bus depot, and his phone was confiscated at that time.
‘This case is especially disturbing because it involves someone who was entrusted with the care of some of our most vulnerable children.’
A criminal complaint said that Bilbo’s phone had been signed into email accounts that were associated with the dissemination of child sex abuse material, including the graphic rape of young children.
Bilbo was identified through information associated with the accounts that included his birth date and his last name, according to a press release from the New Mexico Department of Justice.
He was charged with two counts of distribution of visual medium of sexual exploitation of a child under 13 years of age and one count of possession of visual medium of sexual exploitation of a child under 13 years of age.
One of the videos allegedly associated with Bilbo included the text, “All pedophiles should rape kids,” while the bottom of the video had the text, “#pedopride.”
Each charge carries a possible prison sentence of 11 years, if he’s convicted.
Albuquerque Public Schools senior director of communications Martin Salazar said in a statement that Bilbo had been placed on administrative leave.
“We are deeply disturbed by the charges brought against Patrick Bilbo,” Salazar said. “We became aware of the criminal case against him this morning and immediately began the process of placing him on administrative leave. He was taken into custody by authorities at our west-side transportation center early this morning.”
Salazar said that Bilbo passed a background check when he was hired in Sept. 2024 and that there were no reports of “inappropriate behavior” about him during his time as a bus driver.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez posted video footage from the police arrest.
RELATED: Elementary school teacher allegedly possessed thousands of files of child sex abuse material
“This case is especially disturbing because it involves someone who was entrusted with the care of some of our most vulnerable children,” Torrez said in a statement.
“We will pursue offenders like this with absolute urgency and relentless focus,” he added. “Our message is simple: If you target or exploit children in New Mexico, you will be found, you will be arrested, and you will be held accountable.”
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Dozens of teenagers loot 7-Eleven in brazen flash-mob robbery — and post video on social media
Police are trying to identify dozens of teenagers who looted a 7-Eleven convenience store in downtown Los Angeles in broad daylight.
The clerk of the store hit the panic alarm Saturday to alert police after someone walked into the store and pointed a gun at him. That’s when a mob of teens started stealing items from the business on Beverly Boulevard.
‘They feel like they can get away with anything — and from the looks of it, they can.’
Video posted on social media showed the laughing teens happily ransacking the store.
One of the teens can be heard boasting on the video: “Bro, it’s worth it because it ain’t got my face on it.”
The teen flash mobs have targeted several convenience stores in California in numerous incidents in recent years, and they often post videos of their crimes on social media.
“Nobody respects anything or anyone,” said Erik Albizures, a resident of L.A., to KTTV-TV. “They feel like they can get away with anything — and from the looks of it, they can.”
KTTV reported that no one had been arrested yet, despite numerous surveillance cameras capturing video at the intersection.
“How do we get this to stop? I don’t even know,” said Aaliyah Robinson, another resident. “Kids don’t listen in general, but maybe if parents start teaching their kids to be more respectful.”
RELATED: Security video shows deputy walk in on 4 thugs robbing 7-Eleven in California
At least one resident actually tried to say economic pressures forced the teens into looting.
“They probably don’t have the money for food,” Malcolm McBride said. “If you go up that block, there are so many homeless people. It’s a systemic issue, and I don’t think California is doing a good job at that. I’d start there.”
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Elementary school teacher allegedly possessed thousands of files of child sex abuse material
An elementary school teacher has been placed on administrative leave after police said they found thousands of files containing child sex abuse material in his possession.
Pleasantview Elementary teacher Martin Waskowski was arrested on Wednesday in Vermont after Border Patrol agents identified him as a suspect at the Highland port of entry.
One device contained more than 12,000 files appearing to be child sex abuse material, according to a preliminary review.
Waskowski was re-entering the U.S. from Canada when he was nabbed in a records check by law enforcement, according to a federal complaint.
A search of his cell phone allegedly revealed images and videos of adult men committing sexual acts with prepubescent boys.
Michigan State Police then searched his home, where they confiscated computers, hard drives, and an iPad.
One device contained more than 12,000 files appearing to be child sex abuse material, according to a preliminary review.
Waskowski had been a teacher at the elementary school in Eastpointe for three years and had been a long-term substitute as well.
He allegedly confessed to police that he had collected the child sex abuse material for approximately 20 years, and said that he knew the behavior was wrong, had tried to stop, but had not sought treatment to stop.
He was charged with possession and transportation of child exploitation materials. He was released under supervision and location monitoring.
District officials said they put him on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
RELATED: 29-year-old man charged with 196 felonies related to possession of child sex abuse material
“Prior to this formal notification, the District had no knowledge of, nor had it received any allegations related to, this individual,” reads the statement from the district.
Waskowski is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on Dec. 23.
Eastpointe is a suburb of Detroit, with about 34,000 residents.
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