School Bus Driver Arrested

Alachua County Schools bus driver Wayne Levon Lawrence, 58, was arrested last week and charged with three counts of lewd or lascivious behavior, one count of obscene communication, and one count of using a communication device to commit a felony. 

Lawrence began grooming the victim by allowing him to stay at his house since he was facing homelessness. Lawrence molested the victim at least three times, with his abuses escalating over time.  

After the victim reported it, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Daniel Roca conducted a controlled call with Lawrence from the victim’s phone. After Lawrence believed the victim was alone, he asked him for nude photographs and told him to delete the message after. 

Lawrence admitted to molesting the victim, demonstrating the physical actions he took toward officers during his police interview. 

The Alachua Chronicle reported that Lawrence has been an Alachua County school bus driver since 2018 and “drove Route 1028, which serves Hidden Oak Elementary School, Kanapaha Middle School, and Buchholz High School."

Lawrence has worked in Alachua County Public Schools for over a decade. 

An old Gainesville Sun article from Crossing Guard Appreciation Day in 2014 shows Lawrence was a crossing guard at Littlewood Elementary School before becoming a bus driver.

Orietta Rose reported on Twitter that Lawrence has “worked on and off for the [Alachua County School] district since the 80’s.”

Lawrence’s bond is set at $170,000.