A California driving instructor is currently in jail and out of a job after allegedly installing a hidden camera in his car to record himself fondling his students during lessons.
A little more than a year ago, Richard Joseph Banks, 50, started working as a driving instructor at the American Driving School in El Cajon, Calif., a city of more than 100,000 people about 25 miles east of San Diego. . ADS owner Daniel Tackett told local KFMB. CBS affiliate stationBanks said he received positive reviews from his parents while working for the company, and at times recommended his name to other families.
However, Tackett claimed that he immediately suspended Banks last November after hearing reports that he had sexually abused underage girls. As young as 15 years old.
Captain Mike Holden Investigators from the San Diego Police Department working on the investigation uncovered the grim truth behind Banks' conspiracy. Mr Holden said his father, Mr Banks, secretly installed a recording device in the car used for driving lessons and angled the device so that it would show the students' “private parts” as he fondled them. That's what it means.
“The assaults… took place during driving lessons and while the instructor was secretly recording the young victims,” Ms Holden said.
Investigators so far believe Banks sexually abused 11 girls between April and November last year, but they fear there may be other victims. If you have information regarding these or other claims against the bank, please contact us below. san diego city police.
Last Thursday, Banks was arrested and charged with 32 counts, including six felony counts of using a minor to make obscene material. Other charges include sexual assault and invasion of privacy. He is currently being held at the Vista Detention Center without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Tuesday.
ADS owner Mr Tackett, who has since fired Mr Banks, said the assault charges were “devastating”. “We've been doing this for many years and we take it very seriously, so when something like this happens it's very shocking to us.”
“We are shocked by the allegations against Joe.” Tackett also said. “His actions are his alone and violate our company's and DMV's trust and policies regarding inappropriate conduct. After SDPD notified us of the investigation, he did not teach the student to anyone. “We have always encouraged parents to follow this.” “This is a lesson to observe how we teach.” Like all DMV licensed instructors, Joe I passed a background check from the Department of Justice.”
Further reports from KFMB It shows Banks was charged with a series of crimes in Texas in the 1990s. Charges against him include commercial robbery, forgery and evading arrest. It is unclear whether he has ever been convicted or whether those charges appeared in a background check conducted on him by the Justice Department's ADS.
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