Young girls groped on bus

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Authorities in Frederick County, Md., have begun investigating a report of repeated incidents in which eighth-grade boys fondled and taunted first-grade girls on a public school bus last fall.

The mother of one first-grade girl said she first learned of the fondling accusations this month and is criticizing school officials for not alerting her.

Detective Willie Ollie of the Frederick County Sheriff's Department said he has opened an investigation into the case.

"I'm still gathering facts and interviewing witnesses," Detective Ollie said, declining to provide more information.

Steve Martin, associate superintendent of Frederick County public schools, said "because there is an active police investigation, I can't share anything."

"Once an incident of this type is turned over to the police department, we cease all investigation," Mr. Martin said. "We are very much in a holding pattern, waiting to hear back from the sheriff's office."

Frankie Sechler said her daughter was one of three first-grade girls who were fondled and harassed by the boys. She found out about the fondling this month while talking to the bus driver.

"I'm very upset with the school," Mrs. Sechler said. "I feel like they're trying now to cover it up."

Efforts to contact the parents of the other girls were unsuccessful. However, Mrs. Sechler said that one of the other mothers had talked to a school official and was satisfied that her daughter had been "tickled," not fondled.

The first-grade girls rode a bus to West Frederick Middle School, where they would catch a shuttle bus to attend the gifted-and-talented magnet program at Urbana Elementary School.