The mother of two Georgia children who a school bus driver assaulted is calling for harsher penalties for the man who abused them.
Nequania Carter believes James O’Neil received a “slap on the wrist” from authorities after he was caught on video shoving her two children who were under his care on a school bus earlier this month. She also thinks the crime was racially motivated, but investigators said they “could not establish a nexus” to support her claim.
O’Neil was arrested for two counts of simple battery on Friday, Sept. 16. The district fired him shortly after the incident. Simple battery is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to one year in prison. Because O’Neil committed the crime as an employee, it could be escalated to a high or aggravated nature, which means he could be subject to a $5,000 fine instead of $1,000.
“The charges are enough to say, ‘we did something, so now they can ease up on it,’” Carter told Atlanta Black Star. “No, it is not enough.”
O’Neil is seen in the viral video pushing Carter’s 6-year-old on Sept. 9 before his sister intervenes. The driver then tells the 10-year girl to return to her seat and later threatens to take her phone. Carter said the driver wanted the boy to sit in the back, but that area is reserved for high school students. At one point, the small boy who was shoved over in the seat appeared frantic.
The children’s parents have since removed them from the mostly white Morgan County school system and placed them in a more diverse school district.
Morgan County Chief Deputy Keith Howard said the investigation into the incident “was complicated by the allegation that the incident was perceived as being racially motivated.” Investigators looked at three videos. Two of the videos were recorded by others students aboard the bus. They also reviewed official footage from the bus security camera.
Carter showed Atlanta Black Star a second video where O’Neil and Carter’s daughter are in another dispute about where her little brother is on the bus. The man mocks how the girl speaks. He also walks past a white student who is standing on the bus and does not reprimand him, Carter pointed out. She believes her children were singled out because of their race.
Source: Bus Driver Caught on Video Shoving Black Siblings Arrested, Charged; Mom Says It’s Not Enough
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