Alleged Texting School Bus Driver Gets Probation

Evelyn Guzman, accused of sending and receiving more than 1,000 text messages while driving a bus for special needs students, has received probation and lost her driver's license for two years.

She is also opermanently prohibited from driving a bus.

She was sentenced to accelerated rehabilitation today in Bridgeport Superior Court. That means her charges are dropped after she completes the probation period. 

Guzman is charged with risk of injury to a minor, a Class C felony, and second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class B misdemeanor. She is free on $1,500 bond.

Kim Stagliano, mother of one of the students, had opposed dropping the charges and put out an online petition.

But she said after the hearing, "The judge imposed stiff penalties. She lost her license to drive any vehicle for two years, got two years' probation, a $500 fine to an autism organization, 100 hours' service for each of the two years."

Stagliano's petition had gathered 1,103 signatures before the sentencing, beating the goal of 1,000.

According to the Connecticut Post newspaper, she was ordered to apologize to the parents in the courtroom, but once outside, blamed the parents.

Trumbull police detectives said they noticed Guzman, of Stratford, texting while driving as they investigated allegations in April 2010 that Stagliano's daughter was being abused by Guzman's daughter, the bus monitor.

Guzman allegedly sent and received more than 1,000 messages from April to May.

The daughter, Jennifer Davila, has pleaded guilty and was also given probation, but not accelerated rehabilitation.

Davila was caught on the bus camera injuring Stagliano's daughter's hand. The girl is autistic and non-verbal.

Neither Guzman nor Davila work for the bus company any more.