A former Saco school bus driver pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of drunken driving and two counts of endangering a child’s welfare, according to a plea agreement filed in Biddeford District Court.

Jan Mooney, 55, of Saco was accused of driving drunk twice in one day in December.

She was sentenced to 120 days in the York County Jail, with all but 10 days to be suspended pending completion of inpatient treatment, according to the plea agreement.

If Mooney fulfills all conditions of the agreement, the two counts of endangering a child’s welfare will be dropped, according to the agreement.

Mooney was arrested on Dec. 8 after being removed from a bus as she was about to drive dozens of Saco Middle School students home.

She was charged with drunken driving again after authorities learned that she had driven herself home from the police station after telling police she had arranged a ride.

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Police said her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for most drivers and more than four times the limit for drivers with commercial licenses, such as bus drivers.

Another bus driver reported Mooney to a supervisor on the day of her arrest, according to school officials. The driver had spoken with Mooney in the bus parking lot, just before the afternoon run, and smelled alcohol on her breath.

the time the supervisor was notified, Mooney had driven to the middle school, officials said. A bus dispatcher contacted the school’s resource officer, who boarded the bus after the children were seated.

The officer smelled alcohol on Mooney’s breath and asked her to get off the bus. She resigned from the job several days later.

 

Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at: kbouchard@pressherald.com

 


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