North Bay Shore bus driver, church volunteer arrested for alleged sexual abuse of 2 children
Suffolk County police detectives are asking for any other potential victims to come forward as part of the ongoing investigation.
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Suffolk County police arrested a North Bay Shore man accused of sexually abusing a pair of kids multiple times spanning nearly two decades.
Officers took Bernardo Amaya, 75, into custody at his home around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Investigators accused him of inappropriately touching an 8-year-old girl in August.
As part of the investigation, Suffolk County police Special Victims Section detectives also said Amaya inappropriately touched a child in May and June of 2007 when the child was only four-years-old.
Police said Amaya came in contact with the victims at his North Bay Shore home at 1753 Pine Grove Blvd., where a family member was a childcare worker.
Amaya worked as a bus driver for Educational Bus Inc. in West Babylon.
Educational Bus Transportation spokesperson Lloyd Singer told News 12 in a statement: "The charges do not involve his role as a bus driver with Educational Bus Transportation, where he transported high school and middle school students. He has now been terminated from employment as a result of the ongoing investigation. If contacted by the authorities, we will cooperate fully. The safety of the students and communities we serve remains our top priority."
Police said Amaya also had connections at Saint Luke's Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood.
Diocese of Rockville Centre Rev. Eric Fasano said Amaya was not employed by the church, but volunteered in several capacities.
"He was a volunteer at the Parish, who taught adults in a citizenship class and ushered until November of 2025. In November 2025, the Parish was informed that Mr. Amaya was under investigation and the Parish prohibited him from participating in any volunteer activities since that time. The accusations against him are not connected with the Parish or Parish activities, and the alleged misconduct did not occur on Parish property. All volunteers undergo background screening and training for abuse prevention. There is zero tolerance for abuse committed by any Church employee or volunteer."
"I've known him for many years," a parishioner told News 12 outside of church today. "I've never heard anything like that about him."
Police charged Amaya with two counts of 1st degree sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Amaya pleaded not guilty.
Bail was set at $150,000 cash.
News 12 has learned Amaya has a pending, separate case on an endangerment charge, accused of sucking on the neck of a "severely intellectually disabled" female.
He also is accused of inappropriately touching her. He pleaded not guilty.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they could have been a victim of Amaya to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.
