By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff Writer
A former Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District bus driver who was sentenced to probation nearly three years ago for corruption of minors is now facing felony sexual assault charges after new evidence was processed.
Louis J. Saluga III, 42, of Hilliards, Butler County, has been charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of a person less than 16 and indecent assault/forcible compulsion.
The charges stem from a prolonged investigation into his relationship with a 15-year-old Emlenton girl between May 29 and June 24, 2014.
In December 2014, Saluga was sentenced to serve five years of probation for the misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.
The teenage girl was interviewed on Jan. 28, 2016, at the Venango County Courthouse, where she said her relationship with Saluga was sexual, the complaint said.
The girl said they had engaged in sexual acts six to seven times, with the first instance being on May 29, 2014, the complaint said.
The girl told police none of the acts was forced, but she felt pressure to go through with them, the complaint said.
Due to the information provided by the girl, her blanket, two pairs of underwear, a bra and a pair of shorts were sent to the state police laboratory for testing, the complaint said.
On June 29, 2016, a report on the testing of the items was completed by the Erie lab, which said Saluga’s bodily fluids were found on the blanket and two pairs of underwear, the complaint said.
A search warrant was obtained Aug. 24, 2016. It authorized the collection of DNA from Saluga, the complaint said.
On April 6, 2017, a report documenting the DNA tests and comparison was obtained by the state police’s Bureau of Forensic Services.
Saluga was taken into custody Tuesday and arraigned before Lowrey on the new set of charges.
He was placed in the Venango County jail after failing to post $50,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.