Bus driver sued for taping kid's mouth

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QUEENSBURY, N.Y., July 10 (UPI) -- A former upstate New York school bus driver was sued this week by the parents of a disabled girl who had her mouth shut with duct tape during a trip to school.

Marjorie Jones, 63, was served with the lawsuit Monday, minutes after she was placed on probation by Queensbury Town Justice Michael Muller.

The lawsuit filed by Sabrina and Michael Kio of Corinth seeks $250,000 in damages from Jones and the Corinth Central School District over the incident involving their 7-year-daughter, Angelina Kio.

Jones apologized during Monday's hearing and said did not intend to harm Angelina, who has cognitive difficulties and is unable to speak. The Post Star in Glen Falls, N.Y., said Jones admitted she had placed a piece of tape over the girl's mouth but did so only to distract her when she was acting up, and did not obstruct her breathing.

"I am sorry for what I did," Jones said. "It was a playful thing."