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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- A viral video of a Union Local school bus driver breaking up a fight between two boys reportedly resulted in a threat against the driver's life by one boy's father.
The father pleaded guilty to a related criminal charge Tuesday.
The incident began in mid-April when students were being transported home early due to water service issues. The minute-long video shows one student striking another on the bus until the driver goes back and restrains the apparent aggressor, who then appears to strike the driver.
Another student then assists the driver, who released the restrained student.
That student was told by the driver and the assisting student to sit down. He complied but shouted profanity at the driver.
The boy's father then reportedly threatened the driver when the boy was dropped off.
David Miller, 50, of 42600 National Road Lot 65, Belmont, appeared Tuesday before Belmont County Western Division Judge Eric Costine and pleaded guilty to first-degree misdemeanor aggravated menacing. Miller faces a sentence of up to six months in jail.
The juvenile, age 14, was taken into custody in the days following the fight for allegedly making threats against the school. He was held at the Sargus Juvenile Detention Center and later released.
Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra asked that Miller's sentencing be continued to June 27 to allow for input to be provided by the bus driver. Afterward, Vavra said the matter was a serious one.
"He made a threat of serious physical harm to the bus driver, which led to the charge of aggravated menacing," Vavra said. "He threatened to kill the bus driver and bury him in his front yard. We believe the facts warrant the charge, and we are happy to get a guilty plea on that charge. The sentencing is now set for two weeks away. The primary reason for that is that it gives the victim time to provide a victim impact statement to the court, so the victim can let the court know his wishes and desires as far as any sentence.
"Our primary concern is to make sure this type of behavior doesn't happen again, and to protect this bus driver in particular but really any bus driver and to make sure there are no issues in the schools," Vavra continued. "These kind of things simply aren't acceptable, and that's the message we want to send."
After the incident the school district and law enforcement both stated the driver acted appropriately to stop the fight.
"I believe that he is largely doing well after going through that ordeal," Vavra said.