Douglas G. Conrad, a bus driver employed by the Saratoga Springs City School District, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 13, and charged with four counts of forcible touching, a class A misdemeanor.

Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Buckley said Conrad pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment that night in Saratoga Springs City Court in front of City Judge Douglas C. Mills.

“If convicted, Conrad faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail. He would also have to register as a sex offender,” Buckley said.

Conrad, 35, lives at 151 Jefferson St. in Saratoga Springs and became a bus driver in 2004.

He was arrested at his home on a warrant following an investigation conducted by Investigator James Bell of the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Juvenile Aid Unit. Police allege Conrad forcibly touched two 14-year-old boys over an eight-month period in 2007 at a private residence on the City’s South Side. According to court documents, the incidents occurred in February, April and September, and included unwanted attempted contact with the boys’ buttocks and genitals.

In addition to the misdemeanor counts, an order of protection was issued ordering Conrad to stay away from the two alleged victims. Conrad had been remanded to the Saratoga County Jail, but posted the $2,500 bail and was released.

Thomas Mele, the district’s assistant superintendent for elementary education, confirmed that Conrad is an employee of the district. Mele said Conrad was hired in 2004 as a bus driver and has been placed on administrative leave with pay while the district conducts an internal investigation.

Despite Conrad’s employment as a bus driver, the Saratoga Springs Police Department stressed in a press release they issued that “none of the allegations brought forth thus far have had anything to do with Mr. Conrad’s employment with the school district.”

This isn’t the first time sexual abuse allegations have been raised against Conrad either.

Previously, he was under investigation by the Mechanicville Police Department for incidents that occurred in 2002, while he was living at a day care center that a relative of his operated.

“We’re taking a second look at that case,” Mechanicville Police Chief Joseph Waldron said. “Currently, we’re working with Saratoga Springs police to tie down other incidents that may have occurred within the last year.”

Mele believes the employment criterion for a potential bus driver is very thorough. He said the district does character and reference checks, performs a background check that looks for charges going a decade back, requires a physical each year and conducts a drug and alcohol screening before hiring a candidate as well as random testing after a person is employed. In addition, all new employees of the district, regardless of the position they’re applying for, are fingerprinted.

“We have every indication that our hiring process is solid,” Mele said.

Mele said Conrad met all the criteria for hiring, and his results on all the requirements came back clean.

In related news, Conrad’s roommate, James E. Wiley, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 15, and charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual act, a class E felony. Saratoga Springs City Police arrested the 60-year-old man following an investigation conducted by Investigator John Kelly of the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Juvenile Aid Unit.

Wiley pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charge on Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Saratoga Springs City Court. The charge stems from an alleged encounter with a 16-year-old boy back in January. Wiley was remanded to the Saratoga County Jail with bail set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond, and is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Both investigations are continuing. Police are still seeking assistance from the public in identifying any other potential victims.