NORTH VERNON — A 16-year-old North Vernon teenager was sentenced Monday to 54 years in prison for the sexual assault of an autistic, nonverbal 7-year-old boy aboard a school bus.
Landon Doty, who was 15 at the time of the offenses, will also serve three and a half years of probation following his eventual release.
Jennings Circuit Judge Murielle Bright handed down the sentence after a jury convicted Doty in April on 12 counts, including four felony counts of rape, two felony counts of child molesting, four felony counts of sexual battery, and one misdemeanor count of public indecency. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Bright characterized the case as reflecting “some of the worst behavior” she had witnessed while in office.
The physical abuse came to light on April 17, 2025, after a bus aide confronted Doty, prompting the driver to pull over and separate the students. Subsequent investigations revealed a far broader pattern of abuse. Investigators reviewed nearly 350 hours of security camera footage captured between February and April 2025, identifying 21 separate days where Doty engaged in inappropriate conduct targeting the younger child, frequently during both morning and afternoon routes.
Doty maintained his innocence throughout the trial and sentencing, taking the stand to deny any sexual contact. Court records note that prosecutors and the judge cited his lack of remorse and refusal to accept responsibility as major aggravating factors in determining his sentence. Additional aggravating factors highlighted by the court included the victim’s age and severe disability, the position of trust Doty broke as an older student, and the lasting mental and emotional trauma inflicted on the victim’s family.
In ordering Doty to be tried as an adult, a juvenile probation officer noted that adult court jurisdiction was necessary for public safety due to the severity of the acts, which court documents described as calculated and repetitive.
The victim’s family has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against the Jennings County School Corp., alleging that district staff and bus monitors were negligent and failed to protect the child from repeated attacks.
Following the revelations, the school district implemented updated transportation safety measures, including seating students individually and increasing adult supervision on special transportation routes. The victim’s family continues to advocate for broader statewide policy changes regarding safety and supervision in special needs transportation.
Defense attorney Bradley Kage indicated that Doty intends to appeal the conviction and sentence.
