Two charged in incident on school bus

A mother and daughter have been charged with unlawful restraint in connection with a confrontation on a New Boston, Texas, Independent School District bus in May.

Matilde Morales Juarez, 68, and Guadalupe Morales, 47, are accused of causing a disturbance May 18 on bus 613 shortly after Morales' two daughters were involved in a fight, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. A school district transportation office supervisor called police, and the following day, New Boston police Lt. Johnny Millwood viewed a video recording of the May 19 afternoon bus trip.

The video allegedly shows the 74-year-old bus driver stop during his afternoon route. The supervisor told Millwood the driver stopped because some children were being extremely loud and disruptive. The driver reportedly told the children the bus would remain still until they quieted down. Next, the video allegedly shows a physical fight break out between a male junior high school student and a female junior high student. Another girl joined the fight in progress.

After breaking up the fight, the driver resumed delivering the children to their homes. When he arrived at a house in the 400 block of Bowie Street, the mother(Morales)and grandmother (Juarez) of the two girls involved in the fight approached the bus and "began yelling and complaining" to the driver about the fight.

The driver allegedly told the women they could complain to the school the following day. Juarez allegedly boarded the bus and refused to get off when told to do so by the driver. Morales can allegedly be seen yelling at the driver as Juarez and one of the students begin angrily arguing.

When the driver attempted to close the bus doors, Morales and Juarez allegedly held them open with their hands.

"(The driver) many times told the grandmother and mother that they needed to leave so he could take the children on the bus home," the affidavit states. "I could hear on the video the cries of several young children as it was apparent the verbal exchange between the mother, grandmother and (driver) were alarming some of the children."

When New Boston police officers arrived, Juarez and Morales allegedly complied when told to move away from the bus. During the time that the women allegedly refused to get off the bus or allow the driver to close the doors, the children and driver were prevented from leaving.

Morales and Juarez were arrested for unlawful restraint May 19. Both posted bond on $4,000 each in bail the following day. Mother and daughter are scheduled to appear before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart for pre-indictment hearings next month in Bowie County.

Unlawful restraint is punishable by six months to two years in a state jail.

 

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