South County school bus driver pleads not guilty to molesting 9-year-old girl

A Lucia Mar Unified School District employee pleaded not guilty Monday to seven felonies for sex crimes allegedly committed against a 9-year-old girl while he was working as a school bus driver.

David Kenneth Lamb, 48, of Arroyo Grande, pleaded not guilty to counts of committing forcible lewd acts with a minor, sexual penetration of a child and sending harmful material with intent to seduce a minor.

The Sheriff’s Office received a tip about Lamb, according to a news release, who was arrested June 7 after questioning and a search of his home in the 1900 block of Lyn Road. The District Attorney’s Office filed charges Friday.

The complaint alleges the crimes occurred between Jan. 1 and May 30, while Lamb was a bus driver for the school district. It does not state whether the alleged victim is a student, but District Attorney Dan Dow confirmed on Monday that the alleged contact occurred while Lamb was “in the course of performing his duties as a district bus driver.”

A Lucia Mar School District spokeswoman declined to comment on the case or Lamb’s employment when contacted Monday afternoon, but said the district may yet release a statement.

Lamb remains in San Luis Obispo County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court June 19 for a bail reduction hearing.

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 5:16 PM with the headline "South County school bus driver pleads not guilty to molesting 9-year-old girl."