Police say bus driver supervisor hired children to provide erotic asphyxiation

Sex crimes detectives this weekend arrested a Metro Schools’ Bus Driver Supervisor for allegedly hiring children to provide him sexual gratification, Metro Police reported.

Bob Epley, 56, of Lake Park Drive, has been indicted by the Davidson County Grand Jury on three counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of aggravated sexual battery, according to police spokesman Don Aaron.

His bond was set at $75,000.

An investigation by Detective Heather Baltz alleges that since last October, Epley hired at least three children, ages 9, 14 and 15, on separate occasions to place him in a stranglehold with their legs in order to create an autoerotic sensation.

Epley, who remained clothed during the episodes, commonly paid the youngsters, police said, but the amount of the transactions was not released.

The Metro Schools' employee used a friend’s apartment in the Ashland Hills complex at 2131 Elm Hill Pike for the encounters, which the children told police Epley videotaped. Investigators do not believe that Epley used his position with the school district to attract victims.

The alleged victims identified by Metro Police all live in Ashland Hills apartments, police said, but due to the facts and nature of this case, detectives believe other children could have been involved as well.

Anyone with knowledge of Epley’s dealings with children is urged to contact the police department’s Sex Crimes Unit at 862-7540.