School bus driver sentenced for molesting and taking pornographic pictures of young girls

An Orange County school bus driver convicted of molesting and taking pornographic photographs of young girls was sentenced today to 151 years to life in prison, authorities said.

Terry Lee Shields, 55, of Buena Park, was convicted earlier this month on 15 felony counts, including kidnapping, forcible lewd acts on a minor child and using a minor for sex acts, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Shields lured his victims -- ages 5, 7, and 11 -- by gaining the trust of their families and in one case, promising a trip to Disneyland, prosecutors said.

He then molested the girls and had them pose for graphic photos, authorities said. Two of the victims were molested over a period of three years.

Shields, who was a bus driver for the Los Alamitos School District, was arrested in 2006 after he was spotted viewing child pornography at a Bellflower cyber cafe.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators found numerous discs, videos and computer files of child pornography, including some featuring infants and toddlers, according to the district attorney. The images led authorities to the Orange County victims.

At the time of Shields' arrest, investigators called the case one of the most disturbing they had seen, remarking on the volume and graphic nature of the material found in his possession.

Investigators also found high-powered binoculars, digital cameras, elementary school identification cards, school yearbooks, Elmo dolls and other toys that Shields allegedly used in his crime.

The mother of one victim asked the judge at today's sentencing that Shields receive the maximum sentence, saying she may never know the full extent of the crime because her 5-year-old daughter has a mental disability, according to the district attorney.
 
--Victoria Kim

Comments

[Bigdad59]

They call me Bigdad for a reason, let me have this piece of fricking crap for a cellie! He wont be walking out!

[ericlb]

The true justice won't be the amount of time till his death behind bars but that he will somebody's special 5 year old until then. Have a good life loser!

[BLW]

Sentenced to 151 years to life in prison?

All murderers should be sentenced to that many years in prison, but they don't. The laws need to be changed to protect victims, not the criminals. The criminals are getting basically a slap on the wrist.

[Dat]

151 years in jail....and Polanski, who raped a 13 years is going to walk away scott free. BS.

[Mary]

Death penalty ... need I say more?

[TheBigPicture]

I think he's going to change roles very soon...he will be getting molested for the next 151 long years...

Personally, I rather have the State put him to death instead of me and the rest of the tax payers paying for his incarceration for the next 25 years...

I think anyone with a 20 + year sentence should just be executed...We could do it weekly at the coliseum every Sunday and sell tickets...lucky ticket holder could also participate...It would be a money making proposition...Yeah, Yeah I know, eventually DNA would prove some of these characters factually innocent, but I willing to take that risk and willing to make a few mistakes...

Anyway, this character will not be molesting anymore children...

[John]

Dat, I guess money does buy you freedom.

[PadrePete]

SICK! Am I referring to this monster Shields crimes?
No, I am addressing this warped system of profiteering from criminality and YOU, the taxpayer and the victims’ families.
This animal will be expected to live possibly 30 to 40 years incarcerated at the expense of the taxpayer and all those who have suffered his crimes. These young victims will be soon paying again, in the form of their tax 'donations' for his welfare and upkeep, three squares, TV, whatever privileges that are allowed. This is what is sick. What warped pretense that we are somehow a civilized society to 'reward' this animal with such gratuities.
He should be claimed by the victim’s parents, delivered into their hands and disposed of in whatever manner THEY choose.
THAT! people, is the only rational deterrent and justice to deter such crimes. Kill this animal, A.S.A.P.

[Arietta]

Now we have to support this scumbag for the rest of his life. If we, as a society, weren't such cowards BANG! that would be the end of that. The next molester will prevail because he knows life in prison is the worst that can happen to him. The Big Picture is right - sell tickets, then shoot him by firing squad on national television, for all to see. There will be no lack of spectators or trigger volunteers.

[Natalie]

Gross! This is why I was glad I never had to ride the bus as a kid. I always had a feeling bad things happened there...

[Jessica]

What a Monster!!