Police: Fort Plain school bus aide sexually abused child; School district alerts police

Thomas Yager - Gloversville Police Department

FORT PLAIN – A school bus aide for the Fort Plain Central School District has been charged with sexually abusing a child under the age of 11, police in Gloversville said Thursday.

Thomas Yager, 68, of Fort Plain, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a felony.

Yager is accused of abusing the child on a Fort Plain school bus that transported students for out-of-district placements, police said. Gloversville police handled the investigation and made the arrest.

The investigation began May 21 when the Fort Plain superintendent’s office contacted Gloversville detectives regarding a sexual offense complaint, police said.

The superintendent’s office reported they had discovered that a bus aide had potentially subjected a child to sexual contact.

Detectives then conducted an extensive review of surveillance footage, as well as interviewed approximately 10 people.

Theyarrested Yager Thursday.

Police released Yager’s mug shot, indicating they believed there could be additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gloversville police Det. Jillian Faville at 518-773-4569.

Yager was to be arraigned later Thursday.

Gloversville detectives have been aided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the state police and the Fort Plain Central School District Superintendent’s Office.