COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. — Former Colonial Heights school bus aide Peggy Jordan pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a child Thursday after she admitted to hitting a child on a school bus in April. As part of a plea agreement, she was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, with all 12 months suspended.
In addition to the suspended jail sentence, Jordan must complete 50 hours community service and an anger management program. She must also take parenting classes. She will remain on probation for three years.
Jordan’s lawyer said she hit the six-year-old boy in response to his outburst on the bus. Jordan had previously said she would never hit a child.
“I hit no one, I was being hit, but I hit no one,” Jordan said in an April interview with CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil. “I understand these children, I know what it takes to calm them. I know what happens during a meltdown, and I know how to handle it, and it’s not by hitting a child.”
Jordan left court in tears and told reporters she would never hurt a child.
A second assault and battery charge against Jordan, tied to another incident with another child on the bus, was set aside as part of the plea agreement.
The parents of both children said justice had been served and they were satisfied with the legal result. Cameras are now installed on all special needs buses in Colonial Heights.
