Bus Driver Appeal

A practicing witch and school bus driver is appealing a sexual assault conviction. The woman was found guilty of sexual assault for having sex with a 14-year-old student is appealing her conviction. Kerri Lynn Patavino, of Monroe, was convicted in August 1996 of five counts of second-degree sexual assault and six counts of risk of injury to a minor for luring the boy into a sexual relationship. She was sentenced to six years in prison, but has remained free on a $35,000 bond while she appeals the conviction. It was unclear what issues Patavino will cite in her appeal. Because the case involves a minor, the court file is sealed and court documents outlining the appeal were not accessible. Her appellate lawyer, H. Jeffrey Beck, did not return repeated telephone calls seeking comment. Oral arguments were scheduled Thursday morning before the state Appellate Court in Hartford. Patavino was a pretty, 26-year-old school bus driver who also happened to be a witch. Her accuser was a 14-year-old middle school student on her bus route in Trumbull. She called him "l.b." - for little boy - in love letters signed in blood. The boy claimed they had sex more than 50 times. Patavino's trial featured sometimes lurid testimony about sex, curses and spells. Her accuser testified that Patavino seduced him after taking him out for pizza a month before his 15th birthday. He said they had sex about four times a week from March through June 1995. The boy said he tried to break off the relationship after she started making him do "weird things," including cutting herself with a razor during sex and forcing him to lick her blood. He said Patavino refused to let him go, casting a witch's spell on him to make him stay. The boy finally told his mother, who brought him to police. Patavino has a nonpublished telephone number and could not be reached for comment. Patavino is a follower of Wicca, an ancient, nature-based religion practiced by witches.