Chama, NM – On May 8, 2019, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate a Chama School District bus driver for criminal sexual penetration of a seven-year-old female student on a Chama school bus.
The initial investigation by New Mexico State Police agents indicates that on May 8, 2019, Stephen George Meek aka "Mr. Steve," (66) of Tierra Amarilla, who is a bus driver for Chama Schools was transporting students home after school in a Chama School bus. After other students were dropped off and the seven-year-old victim was the only student left on the bus, Meek pulled the bus to the side of the road near "TA Hill," on US Hwy 84, mile post 254. This is where investigators believe Meek raped the little girl.
A motorist driving by saw the bus pulled over on TA Hill. Concerned the bus was experiencing mechanical problems the motorist turned around to check on the bus, only to see it drive off. A short time later, the motorist saw the bus pull off the road a second time. The motorist stopped to check on the bus driver, and as the motorist got out of their vehicle, Meek waved the motorist off and drove away.
The concerned motorist, who knew the victim and her family called them and alerted them to what they saw. When the victim got home, she disclosed to her family that Meek had raped her. The New Mexico State Police was contacted. The victim was taken to the hospital for an exam. The exam indicated the seven-year-old victim had been raped.
On May 9, 2019 Stephen George Meek was arrested by State Police agents and booked into the Rio Arriba County Detention Center and charged with:
- Criminal sexual penetration in the 1st degree
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Enticement of a child
The pubic is reminded that all defendants are considered innocent unless convicted in a court of law. No additional information is available at this time.