LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Attorneys for a 15-year-old accused of raping a 7-year-old special needs student on an Indiana school bus are trying to get the case thrown out.

Landon Doty was arrested in June for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a non-verbal child with autism on a school bus over the course of several weeks.

The North Vernon teen is being tried in Jennings County as an adult in the case on a dozen charges, including: 

  • Two counts of rape
  • Two counts of attempted rape
  • Child molesting
  • Attempted child molesting
  • Two counts of sexual battery
  • Two counts of attempted sexual battery
  • Criminal confinement
  • Public indecency

As Doty was being taken into custody, he stated "I'm basically screwed." 

According to court documents, school bus video reportedly captured several of the incidents. Records show a school bus monitor noticed Doty pushing the 7-year-old off his lap the morning of April 17. The monitor had the bus driver stop and confronted Doty. The two were separated, and the monitor requested a review of the bus surveillance video.

The behavior allegedly occurred repeatedly over several weeks, according to court documents.

Doty's legal team filed a motion Thursday morning in Jennings County Circuit Court claiming neither the bus monitor nor the bus driver saw any sexual acts happening. Attorneys argue video tapes from the school bus don't show the acts happening either.

According to a copy of the filing obtained Friday by WDRB, Doty's legal team deposed the bus driver and bus monitor on Sept. 9, writing that both testified they "saw nothing alarming," and that the alleged victim "was not acting 'funny' nor upset after the alleged acts."

"The bus driver indicated that when the Defendant (Doty) got off of the school bus, he stated that 'he had been acting silly and bounced the alleged victim on his knee,'" attorneys said in the motion.

Attorneys accuse the state of resting its case primarily on April 16 video tapes from the bus.

The family of the 7-year-old said he was left with permanent injuries.

A civil suit was filed by the family's attorneys and alleges that Jennings County School Corporation acted with gross negligence, violated the child's civil rights and caused permanent harm, as reported by Fox59.

A long-time court officer is quoted in the Probable Cause Affidavit as saying Doty's alleged actions are considered so heinous that he is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system. That officer described Doty "as a predator" who knew what he was doing was wrong, according to previous WDRB reporting. 

The judge has not yet ruled on Thursday's motion to dismiss.

Weeks after his arrest, lawyers filed a motion in July to reduce Doty's bond, which was set at $250,000 surety or $25,000 cash. During a July 24 hearing following the request for a bond reduction, Doty's attorney said the teen should be allowed to go home with his grandparents so he can undergo counseling and continue his classes online. But Jennings County Prosecutor Brian Belding asked the judge to consider the seriousness of the allegations against Doty and the possibility that he could be a flight risk and a danger to the community or himself.

The judge did not immediately issue a ruling on the bond reduction request, but said she was taking it under advisement. 

Previous Coverage: 

Indiana judge considers bond reduction for teen charged with raping 7-year-old

Indiana teen charged with raping 7-year-old on school bus files motion to lower bond

Teen accused of raping 7-year-old on southern Indiana school bus will be tried as an adult

Family claims non-verbal 7-year-old boy was raped on southern Indiana school bus

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