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Dec 30, 2008 4:27 pm US/Eastern
Former Ambridge Bus Driver Avoids Trial
AMBRIDGE (KDKA) ―
A former school bus driver in the Ambridge School District won't be headed to trial thanks to a last-minute deal.
William McCartney, 68, was going to face charges that he intentionally tried to hurt kids riding on the school bus he was driving by slamming on the brakes.
Instead of a trial, the retired postal worker will enroll in an anger management course and accelerated rehabilitative disposition program for first-time offenders.
"He will go on a period of probation that can last up to two years and complete an anger management program," says McCartney's attorney, Jim Ross. "And if that goes OK, which it should, then all of the charges will be dismissed and his record will be expunged."
While there were a few kids allegedly acting unruly, one parent says what McCartney allegedly did was way out of hand.
"It's horrible that these children were put at risk," Ellen Jones, a parent, told KDKA in November. "Not just my son, but this incident put all the children on the school bus in danger."
"Naturally when something like this happens in your life it's unsettling and I'm sure that he is upset, but, I think that this will enable everybody to put it behind them and be in the best interest of all," adds Ross.
McCartney is no longer driving a school bus. There's no word on what, if any, civil actions are to follow.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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