Alleged School Bus Shooter to Stand Trial as an Adult

DOVER , Tenn. - Jason Clinard, the teenager accused of shooting and killing school bus driver Joyce Gregory in March, will stand trial as an adult.

WVLT-TV reported that Clinard began crying when the Aug. 2 decision was announced. Sheri Maddox, Gregory's niece, told School Transportation News that Joyce Wyatt, Gregory's mother, told reporters the one thing she wanted to hear was Clinard tell her family that he was sorry for what he had done.
"He didn't say it," Maddox said.

Tennessee does have the death penalty, but Kerry Thompson from the 23 rd Judicial District Attorney's office said Clinard, if found guilty, faces either life in prison without parole or life in prison. Under the latter, Clinard would be eligible for parole after 53 years.

"The death penalty does not exist for him because he was a minor at the time," Thompson added.

Clinard was 14 on March 2, when he allegedly opened fire on Gregory as she sat in the driver's seat during morning loading. Two students had just boarded the bus when Clinard allegedly shot and endangered the lives of 24 other students ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Thompson confirmed that Clinard told investigators he disliked Gregory and her attitude, following an incident where he and two other students were turned into the school principal for dipping snuff, or smokeless tobacco, on the bus. After shooting Gregory, Clinard said he had planned to commit suicide before finally surrendering to police.
Clinard will remain in custody until the case is presented to a grand jury on Sept. 19.

Source: School Transportation News, September 2005. All rights reserved.