Former Laramie Bus Driver Charged With Sexually Assaulting Two Teens
A Laramie man who was formerly a bus driver has been charged with 10 felonies after allegedly assaulting two teenagers.
Matthew Allyn Strom, 20, faces five counts of first degree sexual assault, four counts of second degree sexual assault and one count of kidnapping.
According to court documents, Laramie Police officers were dispatched to a residence on Feb. 20, at approximately 1:57 p.m. on a report that a minor had been sexually assaulted and possibly drugged.
Upon arrival at the residence the officers spoke to the alleged victim, who said that the defendant had picked him up and brought him to the defendant’s home to play video games, according to court documents. The teen said he knew the defendant as his bus driver, according to the affidavit. The teen told officers that he had seen a black Glock handgun in the defendant’s truck while on the way, court documents state.
According to the affidavit, the victim told the officers the defendant gave him a Mountain Dew to drink and he drank it. The teen said he felt “off” and “not normal” and that he was still feeling the effects. The teen said he believed the Mountain Dew contained Gabapentin, a medication prescribed to the defendant, court documents state.
The teen said that later, the defendant touched him inappropriately while they were seated on the couch beside each other, court documents state. The teen texted his sister saying he needed help and the sister sent a message to the victim from their father’s phone, saying he needed to get home immediately, court documents state. The teen said he showed the defendant the text to force the defendant to bring him home, according to the affidavit.
According to court documents, the teen reported that on the drive to the teen’s house, the defendant touched him inappropriately again and despite the teen protesting, the defendant later drove into a parking lot and sexually assaulted him.
The teen said he left the vehicle and walked to his house where he told his father of the incident and law enforcement were contacted, court documents state.
The teen was examined at Ivinson Memorial Hospital and injuries consistent with the teen’s report to the police where found, according to the affidavit.
According to court documents, The teen also told law enforcement that the defendant had sexually assaulted another young teen, who officers then interviewed. The second teen said he had many sexual encounters with the defendant beginning in August, according to the affidavit. The teen said the defendant gave him a chocolate brownie infused with marijuana as well as bribing him to performing sex acts, even giving him $240 in one instance, according to the affidavit. The second teen also said the defendant told him to keep the sexual acts a secret, as they would be considered sexual abuse and he would go to prison, court documents state.
The second teen reported that he knew the defendant as his bus driver also, and that the defendant had been assigned to him as his Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters. According to court documents, the defendant is said to be a cadet in the civil air patrol, which is responsible for working with youth.
Strom’s arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. in Albany County District Court.