Mahwah NJ police recently arrested a Paterson man accused of sharing sexually explicit photos with a 12-year-old girl.

According to law enforcement, the suspect presented the victim with pictures of his genitalia while the two of them were alone on a school bus.

The suspect is employed as a school bus driver for FSZ Transportation in the Wantage school district. His job reportedly required him to transport the victim from her residence to a private school in Mahwah., New Jersey.

Officials said that the suspect became friends with the girl on Facebook. It is believed that the victim may have showed the suspect nude pictures of herself as well.

Police learned about the alleged sexual conduct after the victim told a therapist about her relationship. The girl reportedly said that she was in a “loving” relationship with the suspect.

The revelations to the therapist came after the girl’s mother expressed to school officials concerns about the suspect.

After becoming aware of the allegations, Mahwah police questioned the suspect. Prosecutors said that the suspect spoke with police investigators and admitted to sharing sexually explicit photos with the victim.

During the investigation, police allegedly found sexually explicit photos on the girl’s cell phone. The victim’s mother reportedly authorized police to search the phone.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit is still in the process of examining several cell phones that may be relevant to the case.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Although child endangerment is typically classified as a third degree criminal offense, the suspect in this case faces second degree felony charges because he was in a position of authority over the girl. If the suspect is convicted of second degree endangering the welfare of a child, he could be sentenced to 10 years in NJ State Prison.

After being arrested and charged, the suspect was transported to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ. He is being held at the correctional facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.

For additional information about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Mahwah Police Say Bus Driver Showed Nude Photo to 12-Year-Old.”