Former Willmar School Bus Driver Sentenced for Sexual Relationship with Student

(Learfield News/Willmar, MN) — A former Willmar school bus driver has been sentenced to just over four years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student.

Fifty-year-old Eric Leist pleaded guilty to second and third-degree criminal sexual conduct and possession of child pornography on his computer.

While working as a paraprofessional at Dream Technical Academy in Willmar, Leist had a relationship with a girl in November and December of 2022, when she was 15 to 16.

The victim told her mother she had been assaulted by Leist, who was arrested.

A search of his computer revealed messages between the two.