A Twin Cities school bus attendant assisting children with special needs has been charged with sexual assault. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput Thursday announced the filing of charges against Harvey Kneifl, 70, of Woodbury.

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Kneifl was charged with six counts of 2nd degree sexual assault. He will have his first court appearance Friday, according to a news release.

According to the complaint filed in the case, Kneifl is a school bus attendant assisting children on the bus with special needs for the South Washington County School District on routes in Woodbury. Like Woodbury Patch on Facebook.

After an investigation by the Woodbury Police Department, with the cooperation of the school district, police say Kneifl is seen on video from inside the bus on two occasions touching six children under age 13 on their genitals over their clothing. Police also say at least three of the children confirmed to law enforcement "that which was readily visible on the school district's video of the bus interior."

"The first duty of this office is the protection of our children," Orput said in a statement. "What this defendant is alleged to have done is totally abhorrent to society. The case will be prosecuted with that standard in mind."