A 16-year-old Indiana teen has been sentenced to 54 years in prison for the deplorable acts he did to a voiceless 7-year-old boy on the school bus.
16-year-old Landon Doty's campaign of perversion towards a non-verbal 7-year-old boy with special needs came to an abrupt end in April 2025.
The weeks-long s***** a**** was halted on April 16th, 2025, when the bus driver noticed the child sitting on Landon's lap. The driver stopped the bus, and a bus monitor went to investigate why the seven year old was on the teenager's lap.
In fact, the bus was for special needs students only. Landon was on the bus for "punishment" because he kept tearing up his regular busses seat. Landon does not have any special needs.
When Landon (who was 15 at the time) realized he was under suspicion, he quickly shoved the child off of his lap.
The monitor later testified to not being able to determine what had been going on but felt like Landon was trying to hide something.
When Landon got off the bus that day, he attempted to explain his actions, saying he was being silly and bouncing the child on his lap.
Despite Landon's excuse, the incident was turned into Jennings County Schools, and a review of video feed from the school bus began. The school, alongside law enforcement, reviewed 300 hours of footage.
School officials and authorities were ultimately able to identify multiple separate instances in which Landon s******* a******** the young child; a child whom lacked the ability to alert anyone to the incidents. Landon was observed holding the child down, using his much larger physical size against the small child while forcefully doing s***** acts to the young boy. This all happened in the bus seat.
The footage was ultimately handed over to Jennings County Prosecutor, Brian Belding. After reviewing the footage, Belding moved forward with charges against Landon Doty in June 2025.
Landon Doty, although 15-years-old at the time the incidents took place, was tried as an adult. The ensuing trial only lasted two days.
Landon's defense was flat out denial. He contested the video footage claiming it was misinterpreted. Landon took the stand claiming there was never s***** intent and his actions were simply "calming techniques." He was seen shoving the child's head in his lap in his own private area... but he stuck by the claim it was a calming technique.
Prosecution allowed the jury to view the video evidence against Landon and decide for themselves.
On April 1st, 2026, after three hours of deliberation the jury returned a guilty verdict on all 12 counts.
Landon Doty was back in court on this Monday August, 24th for sentencing. Judge Murielle Bright handed down a 54 year prison sentence to 16-year-old Landon Doty.
Landon will serve 50 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections and the remaining time will be served on probation.
Landon Doty will be 66-years-old when he is released from prison.
The family of the victim has filed a civil suit against the Jennings County School System, the bus driver, the bus monitor and the school's insurance provider. They are seeking $10.5 million, in damages.
The suit alleges there was a complete failure by school staff to protect their child from repeated S/A.
We do hope the 7-year-old recovers fully from this.
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