A school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting two young female students during daily games of “hide-and-seek” on the bus will remain jailed pending his trial.

A Morris County judge issued the ruling on Monday. The decision came after county prosecutors claimed Thomas Thomasevich, of Oakland, had groomed the children to be cooperative and play the game. They also said that Thomasevich manipulated them to be silent.

The 70-year-old bus driver’s lawyer argued that his client should be freed, citing his “spotless” record and family ties to the area

The attorney also described the allegations against Thomasevich as a “huge misunderstanding.”