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A private school bus driver denies sexually touching a 4-year-old boy who attended a Union Road yeshiva, the man's lawyer said Thursday.

 

Shlomo Erps, 27, has been suspended with pay by the yeshiva pending the outcome of a felony charge of first-degree sexual abuse, his lawyer, Keith Braunfotel of New City, said.

 

"He is denying the charge and is prepared to vigorously defend himself," Braunfotel said. "He's a hard-working family man. One of his children goes to the same school."

 

Spring Valley police detectives investigated a complaint from the boy's parents and arrested Erps on the felony charge two weeks ago, police said. Erps is accused of sexually touching the child on the bus, Spring Valley police Detective Robert Bookstein said.

 

Erps has been released after posting $10,000 bail pending a Spring Valley Justice Court appearance scheduled for Sept. 11.

 

A school administrator for Talmud Torah Khal Adas Yereim, located at 33 Union Road, said it suspended Erps immediately after his arrest earlier this month. The administrator, Tzvi Sternberg, said the "administration did not outright fire the driver because he is not yet deemed guilty in a court of law."

The school has installed cameras in all buses to better protect the safety of the students, Sternberg said.

 

The school's website states it has an enrollment of 285 students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The school provides secular and religious education.