Jury deliberations ongoing in case of HISD bus driver accused of sex assault

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The jury considering the fate of a former HISD bus driver accused of sexually assaulting two young girls will continue deliberations Thursday morning.

They asked to be allowed to go home and "sleep on" their decision.

That, after sending Judge Susan Brown a note suggesting they were deadlocked. The judge had ordered them to continue attempting to reach a verdict.

Jonathan Palmares is accused of sexually assaulting two girls - a first and a second grader - on the bus while along one of his routes. The girls were 7 and 9 years old.

Prosecutors say one video from inside that bus shows Palmares getting questionably close to one of the girls and seemingly trying to kiss her. Another video showed Palmares getting close to another student and seemingly trying to kiss her - but she backs away.

Authorities only discovered what was happening after one of the girls made an outcry to her parents. Investigators say Palmares drove a route from Red and Kolter Elementaries to Gross Elementary. They believe the assaults went on for the entire 2014-15 school year.

Palmares was fired by HISD after the allegations came to light.

He is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and can face up to life in prison if convicted.