Spirit Lake, IA (KICD) — Testimony began Friday in the trial of an Okoboji bus driver accused by a student of inappropriate contact when she was 14 and 15 years old.

The case is being prosecuted by Andrew Prosser from the State Attorney General’s office who said in opening statements the girl – now 16 – was known to have gotten into a certain degree of trouble, which made her a susceptible victim.

Co-Defense Attorney Alexandria Celli Smith said in her opening statement that her team will prove that it’s Steve Titterington who is the victim of a lying teenager and a Deputy who did not do his job by conducting a thorough investigation.

During cross-examination the accuser said she first told her mother about the alleged abuse the day after her mother and stepfather came home and found her with her 18-year-old boyfriend. Co-

Defender Chris Sandy brought up inconsistencies in her story whether she was really the first person picked up and last dropped off on the bus route; whether other students witnessed it; if the alleged abuse took place on the steps of the moving bus or in the aisle; whether Titterington had ever told her not to tell anyone or not; and whether her boyfriend was the first person she told last year.

November, or if she had told her cousin the prior summer. The girl also had previously said she was given money by the defendant, today she said under oath that she had asked for the money to buy food.

In opening testimony conducted by the prosecutor the girl claimed the defendant started to touch her both through and under her shirt when she was in 8th grade, and said it occurred every morning and afternoon of her 9th grade year except for two days. She said it happened while she stood at the front of the bus with the operator continuing to drive. She said on one occasion when she was in 9th grade, he placed his hand under her jeans and underwear.

The charges of 3rd degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee were made one year ago in February of 2022. A count of child endangerment was previously dismissed.
Based on the extensive witness list, judge Carl J. Petersen expects testimony to run into the later part of next week.