Shuttle Bus Driver Pleads Guilty to Molesting 6 Boys

An Anaheim shuttle bus driver, who said he wanted to spare his victims the trauma of testifying at his trial, pleaded guilty in North Municipal Court on Tuesday to 49 counts of sexually molesting six young boys.

Steven Paris, 34, is scheduled to receive a 30-year sentence, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kathleen M. Kendle said.

Paris, who is a Neighborhood Watch participant with no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty to molesting his son, 5; two stepsons, 11 and 13, and three neighborhood boys, 9, 10 and 13. The molestations of his sons had been going on for seven years, Kendle said. The molestations of the neighborhood boys began about two years ago, she said.

Paris was arrested last August after the molestations had been reported to officials at a Mormon church where Paris and some of the victims’ families are members.

“One of the boys told a baby sitter, who told her parents, who told their ward bishop,” Kendle said. “A neighbor woman whose children are not involved at all heard about their going to the church, and she told the mother of one of the victims, who reported it to police.”

The district attorney’s office investigated whether the ward bishop had been guilty of failing to report the accusations to police, but Kendle said her office decided that the bishop was not legally bound to file a police report.

If Paris had gone to trial and been convicted, he would have faced a possible 104-year sentence. He originally was charged with 71 counts involving seven victims.

Kendle said she agreed to pursue only 49 counts after discussions with all the victims. Superior Court Judge James J. Alfano has indicated that he would favor a 30-year sentence for the guilty plea, she said. Paris is scheduled to appear in Superior Court for formal sentencing on Nov. 10.

Kendle said she is satisfied with the 30-year sentence.

“It is reasonable in order to spare the children having to testify,” Kendle said.

All six victims are now in counseling programs and are doing well, Kendle said.

Kendle described Paris as “a classic pedophile” who coerced the neighborhood boys into having sex with him by gradually getting them used to nudity when they would visit his sons. Then, she said, he would get them to watch pornographic films at the home.

Paris is married, but the molestations apparently took place while his wife was at work, Kendle said.