Former school bus driver charged with statutory rape

HORNERSVILLE, Mo. -- A former school bus driver and maintenance worker with the Senath-Hornersville Schools has been arrested on charges of statutory rape.

Ruben Marty Goff, 54, of Hornersville, was arrested last week on charges of statutory rape in the second degree. The charges stem from an investigation by the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department into alleged incidents in the summer of 2009.

Senath-Hornersville School District Superintendent Larry Wood confirmed on Monday that Goff was an employee of the district in 2009 at the time of the alleged incidents. Goff was a school bus driver and maintenance employee based at the Hornersville school.

Wood reported Goff's employment with the district ended March 30.

The probable cause affidavit filed by the sheriff's office states that on or between June 27, 2009 and August of 2009, Goff picked up a 15-year-old girl in his own vehicle and took her to a field off County Road 513, where Goff is alleged to have had intercourse with the girl.

The affidavit states Goff is alleged to have had sexual intercourse with the young teenager two additional times at different locations.

Goff posted $20,000 bond at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to appear at an arraignment today before Circuit Judge John C. Spielman in Circuit Court in the Dunklin County Courthouse in Kennett.