Authorities say surveillance video from Indian River school buses helped identify the 32-year-old suspect after reports from teenage passengers.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — A 32-year-old New York man has been charged after authorities said he exposed himself to teenage passengers on an Indian River school bus during two separate encounters on Interstate 81 within one week.
Daniel Iles of Rossie faces two counts of public lewdness and two counts of child endangerment, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators allege the incidents happened Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 as Iles drove alongside school buses traveling north on Interstate 81 in the town of Watertown. He was arraigned and later released. The charges are allegations, and the case has not been resolved in court.
Authorities said the first incident occurred on the morning of Sept. 15. At least one passenger, a 16-year-old student, reported seeing a man expose himself while driving next to the bus. Officials said the student also reported seeing the driver engaged in lewd behavior.
A second report came one week later, on Sept. 22, while another Indian River school bus was traveling north on the same interstate in Watertown. A 16-year-old passenger reported another alleged exposure incident involving a driver traveling next to the bus. Authorities said they were not certain whether the same student witnessed both encounters.
School resource officers assigned to Indian River reviewed surveillance recordings from the buses after receiving the reports, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators said the video supported the students’ accounts and provided a view of the vehicle involved.
The surveillance system also captured a license plate number, which authorities said allowed investigators to identify the vehicle and ultimately led to Iles’ arrest. Officials did not publicly provide additional details about the arrest or say whether other students witnessed the alleged conduct.
The allegations involve minors, and authorities have not publicly identified the students who reported the incidents. News reports have described both witnesses only as 16-year-old students, protecting their identities because of their age and the nature of the allegations.
Iles was arraigned on the two public lewdness charges and two child endangerment charges before being released, according to authorities. Available reports did not specify his next court date or describe any conditions imposed following his release.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigation centered on the students’ reports and the bus surveillance footage. No additional charges or alleged incidents had been publicly announced in the reports available as of Saturday.
Author note: Last updated October 3, 2026.