INDIANA TEEN CONVICTED ON 12 COUNTS IN SHOCKING BUS ASSAULT CASE; SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES $9.8M LAWSUIT

NORTH VERNON, INDIANA – A Jennings County jury has delivered a swift and decisive verdict in a case that has horrified the local community and raised national questions about school bus safety. Landon Doty, 16, was found guilty on Wednesday on all 12 felony counts related to the repeated sexual assault of a 7-year-old non-verbal student with autism.

The Verdict

After a multi-day trial where Doty was prosecuted as an adult, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting him of:

• Four counts of Rape

• Two counts of Child Molestation

• Four counts of Sexual Battery

• Criminal Confinement and Public Indecency

The prosecution’s case centered on nearly 300 hours of surveillance footage from the school bus. Prosecutors argued the video showed a “calculated” pattern of abuse where Doty would pause his actions whenever he suspected the bus monitor or driver was looking, only to resume once the coast was clear.

A Systemic Failure?

The case has sparked outrage following revelations about how Doty ended up on that specific bus. Although not a special needs student himself, Doty had been reassigned to the special education route as a disciplinary measure after vandalizing a seat on his previous bus.

Once reassigned, he was reportedly instructed to sit next to the 7-year-old victim to “help keep the child in his seat.” This placement effectively gave a known disciplinary problem unsupervised access to one of the district’s most vulnerable students.

The Defense’s “Calming” Argument

Taking the stand in his own defense, Doty denied any sexual intent, claiming he was merely “messing around” and utilizing “calming techniques” by bouncing the child on his knee. His defense team also pointed to a lack of DNA evidence. However, the prosecution successfully argued that the graphic nature of the video evidence “spoke for itself,” rendering the lack of DNA irrelevant in the face of visual proof.

$9.8 Million Federal Lawsuit

The legal battle is far from over for the Jennings County School Corporation. On Thursday, the victim’s family filed a federal lawsuit seeking $9.8 million in damages.

The lawsuit names the district, the bus driver, and the bus monitor, alleging they failed to protect the child despite the assaults occurring over a period of two months. The family claims the boy suffered “permanent physical and psychological injuries” as a result of at least 14 documented instances of abuse on the bus.

What’s Next?

Landon Doty remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for April 27, 2026. Given the severity of the charges and his trial as an adult, he faces a potential sentence of several decades in prison.

The Jennings County School Corporation has declined to comment on the pending litigation but stated they are “committed to the safety of all students.”