A 21-year-old bus driver in the Lincoln County School District is being held on $250,000 bond after his arraignment Monday in circuit court on charges of luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child.
Lincoln City police arrested Josiah Lafrenz, 21, a First Student school bus driver on Friday a day after it received a report of inappropriate communication with a student at Taft 7-12 School.
Lafrenz was arraigned Monday. Judge Amanda Benjamin – who ordered that most documents related to the case be sealed from the public – scheduled a preliminary hearing for Monday, May 19. Newport defense attorney Kathryn Benfield was appointed as Lafrenz’ counsel.
In its charging document, the district attorney’s office accused Lafrenz of using “online communication” between May 2-8 to solicit a child under 16 years of age to engage in sexual contact or sexually explicit conduct and offered to meet with the child. The charging document also said Lafrenz also communicated with a police officer posing as a minor between May 2-8 “for the purpose of inducing the minor to engage in sexual conduct.”
Lincoln City police said Friday that they received a report a day earlier of inappropriate communications between Lafrenz and a student and immediately took steps to ensure he had no more contact with students.
Police said they notified the school district of the investigation and arrest. But district officials said Friday night that Lafrenz was a First Student employee and they had no information on how long he worked for them and other employment details. The district also did not respond to questions on how it was informing Taft students of Lafrenz’ arrest.
First Student managers did not respond to phone calls or an email asking about Lafrenz’ employment.
Police said because of the potential for additional victims, it urged anyone with information regarding this investigation or similar circumstances to call 541-994-3636 and reference case No. 25-5594.
