Former school bus driver alleged sexual offender

Lee Calvin Pardue

A former Santa Rosa County school bus driver has been arrested in Escambia County on sexual related warrants.

Lee Calvin Pardue, 43 of Milton, was arrested Friday on a warrant charging him with use of a computer to solicit a child and lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim over 12, but under 16.

Pardue remains in the Escambia County Jail with his bond set at $260,000. He will remain in the Escambia County Jail until he can be transferred to Santa Rosa County.

According to the warrant obtained by the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, the investigation was initiated after the Department of Children and Families contacted the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office alleging sexual activity between Pardue and a minor.

Pardue was a school bus driver for Landrum Bus Services during the 2011-12 school year.

While working as a bus driver, Pardue is alleged to have started communications by making flirtatious comments towards the minor as well as comments about their body.

Those communications reportedly evolved to text messages and via Facebook.

During these communications it is alleged that nude photographs were exchanged.

According to the warrant, Pardue sent 10 nude photographs of himself along with other photos during the exchange.

Sgt. Scott Haines stated, "the conversations became more sexual in nature, and Pardue ended up meeting the minor on three separate occasions."

Pardue allegedly provided the minor with alcohol and sexually molested the minor.

According to the warrant, Pardue was not a bus driver at the start of the 2012 school year.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is asking that anyone with information concerning illegal activity committed by Pardue to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office at 983-1100 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at 437-7867.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Former school bus driver alleged sexual offender