Man charged in school bus radio prank

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Charlotte, N.C., school officials say they've pressed charges against a radio station employee who boarded and rode a school bus as part of an on-air prank.

Bud Cesena, head of law enforcement for Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, said the school system had decided to file charges against Jase Edward "Cubby" Squires, a station staff member who was allowed to get on a middle school bus and ride with children, The prank was set up by Brotha' Fred, host of the Morning Mayhem on WIBT-FM (96.1, the Beat), The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday.

Squires was arrested and charged with causing a disturbance on a school bus. He was later released on $1,000 bond, the newspaper said.

"We thought it was pretty entertaining," Brotha' Fred told the Observer. "We try to entertain in a way that some people will think was funny and some won't. But we had no malicious intent."

As Squires described the prank on the air via his cell phone, he first asked parents gathered at a stop where the bus was going, then asked the driver if he could get on and chatted with the disc jockey while riding.

Superintendent Peter Gorman said the driver has been suspended without pay, the Observer said.