Bus driver fired over duct tape incident
No charges filed at family's request
Friday, March 23, 2007
MONMOUTH - No charges will be filed against a bus driver accused of putting duct tape over the mouth of a 6-year-old girl last week on a bus trip between United High School near Monmouth and the elementary school in Alexis.Warren County State's Attorney Chip Algren said he spoke Wednesday with the girl and her mother, identified as Deanna Trout. He said Deanna Trout called him early Thursday afternoon and said she would not pursue charges.
"I'm not intending on filing (charges), but that's based on the wishes of the family," Algren said in a telephone interview.
Had he pursued a charge against bus driver Sara Taylor, he said, it would have been one of battery, which probably would have resulted in a fine.
"The odds of seeing any jail time are about zero," he said.
Taylor has been fired from her job at Cavanaugh Bus Service in Monmouth, Algren said. He said he might have decided differently about charges if she remained on the job and working near children.
He also said the little girl showed no signs of continued trauma during the visit to his office.
Taylor, who has no prior criminal record, showed remorse in a meeting with Algren, he said.
"I don't think it was fake remorse," he said. "The impression I got from her was that she was truly sorry for what she did."
During the bus trip from the high school to Alexis on March 13, Taylor placed duct tape over the girl's mouth after she screamed when another child scratched her.
Algren said Taylor told him she knew she had done something wrong as soon as it happened.
United School District Superintendent Jeff Whitsitt said the girl was the only student he knew of still not riding the bus in the wake of the incident.
He said students were assured last week of their safety while riding the bus and noted the contractor's strong action against the driver.
"I'm confident we won't have any similar problems with our contract employees," he said.
