(InEDC) BY Brittany Hope PLACERVILLE, Calif. — 6:26 PM PDT Aug 9, 2023
New documents obtained by KCRA 3 reveal more details into the investigation of an El Dorado County Office of Education special education transportation driver who is facing a list of sexual assault charges.
Tarik “Ty” Manasrah, 42, was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting one of his dependent adult passengers.
He had been employed by EDCOE since October 2021, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents list two victims who were both passengers in Manasrah’s van.
The first victim is described as a 22-year-old developmentally disabled adult who was routinely picked up from school around 2:30 p.m. and dropped off at home around 3:30 p.m.
Court documents state she rode in the front seat next to Manasrah, and she told investigators he often told her she was pretty and should wear dresses more often.
She told a care worker months after the alleged assault that she had been raped inside an EDCOE van in November 2022 by Manasrah, according to documents.
Records in the case involve a transportation log where Manasrah hand-wrote that he dropped her off at home at 3:21 p.m. that day. But according to court documents, her mother said she didn’t get home until after 4:30 p.m. During that time, the victim’s mother was unable to get ahold of her.
The victim detailed a violent sexual assault inside the EDCOE van, according to the documents. She said she later bled after the assault while going to the bathroom.
The victim told investigators when the assault ended, Manasrah told her not to tell anyone or he would get in trouble or lose his job. Court documents went on to say that he also said he would go to her house and have sex with her.
She told investigators she was also fearful for her friend who has Down syndrome, is hard of hearing, and is visually impaired. She claimed her friend also sat in the front seat.
Investigators interviewed the friend, who told them she engages in “secret” hugs with Manasrah, they communicated via phone and text, and she had seen him in person since school ended.
He is now facing eight felony charges and one misdemeanor charge.
His next hearing is currently scheduled for Aug. 28.
KCRA 3 spoke with Sheila McGrath, who believes her daughter was driven by the suspect.
“I remember introducing myself to him,” McGrath said. “I remember the interaction and he wanted her to sit in the front of the van one time and I didn’t want her to.”
She says her young daughter is non-verbal.
“I don’t know if anything happened to our daughter,” she said. “If anything like that were to happen, she wouldn’t be able to tell us.”
Alicia Ferguson, another parent with a child with special needs, said she wants more answers from officials.
“This is like the worst nightmare for a parent, especially a parent for a special needs kid,” she said.
