Ind. Teen Said He Was Using ‘Calming Techniques’ on Non-Verbal Boy with Autism on School Bus. He Was Just Found Guilty of Rape

**Teen Convicted of Sexual Assault on Autism Sufferer in Indiana**

In a concerning case from Indiana, a 16-year-old boy, Landon Doty, has been convicted on multiple charges including rape and child molestation. The conviction comes after Doty was found guilty of sexually assaulting a non-verbal child with autism while on a school bus.

The verdict was reached on April 2, and Doty was tried as an adult. He faces serious charges, including rape, child molestation, sexual battery, criminal confinement, and public indecency. Prosecutors revealed that surveillance footage from the school bus captured Doty abusing the seven-year-old victim over a period of several weeks last year.

Court documents indicate that a disturbing incident on April 17, 2025, led to the discovery of Doty’s actions. A bus monitor observed Doty forcibly shoving the boy off his lap, prompting her to stop the bus and intervene. After separating the two, the monitor requested a review of the bus’s surveillance video, which ultimately provided damning evidence against Doty.

During his defence, Doty denied the allegations, claiming that he was merely using “calming techniques” on the boy. He insisted that his actions were innocent, stating, “I was bouncing him on my knee like a kid,” as he testified in court. However, his claims were met with scepticism from the prosecution and jury alike.

Authorities noted that the victim was placed next to Doty on the bus designed for children with special needs, despite Doty not having any disabilities. Following an alleged incident of vandalism on another school bus, Doty was reassigned to ride with children who required special supervision.

In his defence, Doty’s legal team asserted that neither the bus driver nor the monitor witnessed any sexual activity. They also highlighted the absence of Doty’s DNA on the victim. In contrast, prosecutors maintained that the surveillance video provided clear evidence of Doty’s guilt, with one officer describing him as “beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system,” which resulted in the decision to try him as an adult.

In the aftermath of these events, the victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Jennings County School Corporation, along with the bus driver and monitor. They claim that school officials were aware of the child’s vulnerability yet failed to take adequate measures to ensure his safety. The family alleges that their son has suffered lasting injuries due to the assaults.

As the community grapples with the ramifications of this case, Landon Doty is set to be sentenced on April 27. The case has raised serious concerns regarding the protection of vulnerable children within educational settings and the responsibilities of staff members to ensure a safe environment.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, resources are available for support. The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), and further assistance can be found at rainn.org. For those needing help with sexual abuse issues, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 will connect individuals to a certified crisis counselor.