Police: Mesa school bus aide arrested in sexual abuse of boy with autism

A Mesa school bus aide is accused of sexual abuse after police say video shows her kissing a 12-year-old boy with autism and letting him touch her breast.

Samantha Rose Poirier, 18, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of one count sexual abuse and one count contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Court records say video shows her leaning into the 12-year-old, grabbing both sides of his face and kissing him on the mouth. The alleged incident happened as the two were on an afternoon bus ride March 19.

Poirier was fired from Mesa Public Schools on Wednesday, according to a district statement.

Video showed the two of them talking for a while after the kiss. Then, Poirier turned to face the boy and "appears to be smiling and nods her head and looks down towards her right breast. It appears she gave him permission to touch her breast," a police officer wrote in the court record.

Police said video showed the boy reaching over and pulling her shirt down, and Poirier reaching into her shirt.

"The defendant said she did let the victim pull on her shirt, so he could look at her breasts," the officer wrote, adding that Poirier told police she was wearing an undershirt and bra "so he did not see her breasts."

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The officer noted in court records that the audio was difficult to hear because of the noise of the bus.

The boy told police in an interview that Poirier kissed him and made him touch her breast. He told police the aide "threatened him they would get into trouble if he told anyone about the kiss and the touch," according to court records.

The aide also talked to him about how babies were made and about what rape meant, he told police. She also allegedly told him about school shootings and "to look them up on the computer."

In a statement, Mesa Public Schools said the school district's first priority is the safety and security of its students.

"On Friday, March 23, Transportation department administration contacted Mesa Police Department when they learned of possible inappropriate behavior between Samantha Poirier and a student. The district is fully cooperating with the police investigation," the statement said.

Poirier had worked for the district since August as a part-time bus aide. She was placed on administrative leave March 26 and fired two days later, district officials said.

She was released from custody while she awaits her next court appearance, which is scheduled for April 11 at the Southeast Regional Court Center in Mesa.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-8062 or anne.ryman@arizonarepublic.com.

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