Former school bus aide charged with lewd conduct for alleged sexual contact with 8-year-old girl

POCATELLO — A man who police say sexually touched an 8-year-old girl multiple times is charged with multiple felonies.

Craig Colton Anderson, 30, was charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16, court records show.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on May 6 around 9 p.m., Pocatello police received a call from a woman reporting a sex crime. The caller said she saw Anderson putting his hands down an 8-year-old girl’s pants.

Officers spoke to the woman and another witness who reported seeing something similar the day before.

The victim was taken to Portneuf Medical Center to be evaluated for sexual assault. During the examination, the girl told a nurse that Anderson had touched her and pointed to her genitals, the affidavit said.

Officers found Anderson at a sporting goods store on Yellowstone Avenue and arrested him.

Anderson agreed to answer questions and allegedly admitted to accidentally putting his hands down the girl’s pants and underwear. But it was only his fingertips, he said, telling officers he never touched the girl’s genitals.

He was taken to the Bannock County Jail and arraigned. He was released after posting $10,000 bail the same day.

Before his arrest, Anderson was employed by Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25 – his Facebook page says he was a bus aide. According to PCSD25 spokesperson Courtney Fisher, Anderson was employed by the district from August 17, 2022 to May 7, 2024.

According to court documents, the assaults did not occur on school district property.

Even though Anderson was charged with these crimes, that doesn’t necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

If found guilty, Anderson could face life in prison.

He is scheduled to appear in court on May 21 for a preliminary hearing before Judge Scott Axline.