by John Dowd
Jannette Sessions, the driver of the Stevensville school bus that was pulled over on Tuesday, May 23, pleaded not guilty on July 5 in Ravalli County District Court. Session’s omnibus hearing in July also saw her make a bail request. However, it was denied until her next bail hearing, August 9 at 9 a.m.
According to charging documents, in late May she ran into a fence near Ridge Lane and Three Mile Creek Road. After striking the fence, Sessions was reported by students to have fallen out of her seat after the impact. She got back into the driver’s seat and continued to drive, after which she picked up more students and continued down the road. The charging documents mention that there were at least two children under the age of 14 and 10 children of 14 years or older present during the initial impacts. She picked up an additional 11 children throughout the morning before finally being pulled over by a state trooper.
The defendant admitted that the children on the bus requested that she stop, but she refused to do so. Sessions also admitted to taking anti-anxiety medication of an unknown variety as well as aspirin. After performing the sobriety test on Sessions, the trooper determined that Sessions was in fact under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sessions showed difficulties with balance, perception and coordination. Blood samples were taken and Sessions was taken into custody.
Sessions had her initial appearance for preliminary procedures on Wednesday, May 24, in Ravalli County Justice Court. Since then, her case has been moved up to District Court, under Judge Howard Recht.
Sessions has been charged with 10 felony counts of criminal child endangerment, one felony count of criminal endangerment, one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and one misdemeanor count of failure to give notice of a crash.