CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee appeals court hasupheld a decision to deny diversion to a former school bus driver convicted ofcharges including negligent homicide in a 2016 crashed that killed sixchildren.
News outlets report the ruling was issued Tuesday in thecase of Johnthony Walker. Judge Don Poole last year sentenced Walker to fouryears in prison and said then that Walker shouldn’t be sentenced to diversionbecause the crash was so horrific. Prosecutors said Walker was speeding and onthe phone when he crashed the bus carrying 37 children.
Walker appealed, arguing that Poole based his decision ononly one of six factors. The appeals court says Poole did just that, as allowedso long as other factors are considered and outweighed by the denying factor.
