Anniston, AL - The man responsible for transporting a bus full of children to and from school faces a very serious charge.

68-year old Phillip Bernard Williamson of Anniston has been arrested for allegedly having pornographic images of underage children on his home computer. He's been driving with the Calhoun County School System for years. Although he has not been convicted this allegation is enough for parents to have a tough talk with their children about safety.

For Tanya Harris-Brown, it's a breach of trust. Her daughter rides the bus to elementary school. Although Williamson is not her child's driver, she's upset that he allegedly saved photos on his home computer of undressed children under the age of seventeen. Harris-Brown says, "That makes you not even want to put your kids on the bus. That makes me not want to put my kids on the bus."

According to a police report Williamson has been arrested before, however the Calhoun County Board of Education says he passed all background checks required to be a school bus driver. Anniston Police say Williamson turned his computer over to a repair shop. They noticed the photos and reported them to police. After obtaining a search warrant a forensics team based in Hoover verified the underage images The District Attorney issued an arrest warrant.

For parents it's a reminder to talk to your children about boundaries, not only with strangers but also with people they know and quite possibly trust.

Harris-Brown says, "That's what I tell my kids every day as they leave the house if somebody touches you or says something to you in a way that's very uncomfortable I want to know as soon as you get in the house because i want to take care of it."

As for that previous arrest listed on the police report, Lt. Rocky Stemen says he doesn't know Williamson's criminal history, but he believes if the charges were related he's sure that would have surfaced.

Superintendent Judy Stiefel says no arrests appeared on his background check. Also, the School Board hopes he'll go to court before school starts this fall. His employment depends on a guilty or not guilty verdict.

 Email To Friend