Female Former School Bus Driver Convicted in Lubbock of Sexually Assaulting 12-year-old Boy

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 09-12-03 | Drennan, Kerry

[Theodore R.]

Former bus driver convicted of sexually assaulting 12-year-old boy BY KERRY DRENNAN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Sonja Childers broke into tears Thursday afternoon after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old boy.

Jurors deliberated almost three hours before finding her guilty of aggravated sexual assault of the boy who rode the school bus she drove.

The conviction came after three days of testimony from the victim, now 14, his brother, Durham Transportation employees, police officers and Childers' friends and neighbors.

On Thursday, prosecutor Brian Kingston drew a chart listing all the witnesses, then asked Childers about different elements of her version of events that conflicted with the other witness accounts.

She took issue with the testimony of almost every person who took the stand.

"So your friends and neighbors are lying to convict you?" Kingston asked Childers.

"Yes — if that's what you want to hear," she replied.

Childers claimed she was coerced into confessing because Wolfforth Police Chief Rick Scott terrified and threatened her.

She admitted she was read and understood her Miranda rights, which include the right to an attorney and the right to end the interview at any point, but said she still felt pressured to admit to a crime she had never committed.

In her statement to Scott, she admitted having sex with the boy, buying him a cell phone, spending time with him at the mall while he skipped school and writing the five love letters to him that were found in his home.

She made statements from the stand Thursday contradicting her taped interview with Frenship ISD Officer Kevin Ard, a tape played for her during her trial Wednesday.

When Kingston asked her about letters found in the boy's room, she told him they were written to a 47-year-old co-worker with whom she was having an affair.

The letter read, in part: "You asked the other day if I would live with you when you get older. I can tell you right now things will change for you when you get older."

Childers, 28, claimed she was trying to reassure her lover, who is 19 years older, that she would still want him as he aged.

Childers faces between 5 and 99 years in prison. Sentencing begins at 9 a.m. today in the 364th District Court.

kdrennan@lubbockonline.com 766-8707

[WestPacSailor]

This woman has serious problems and I hope she gets counseling while in jail....fora a long, long time.

[Lazamataz]

being convicted of raping a 12-year-old boy.

JEEZ!

Hands off the kid, lady!

[camle]

"Former female bus driver..."

IF she's formerly female, what is she now?

Perhaps the headline should read "Female former bus driver..."

[Theodore R.]

I put "female" in the headline hoping to clarify this tragedy. Obviously, did I not catch the incorrect grammar format. Sorry.

[camle]

I thought the paper did it. I was enjoying the implications here. didn't mean to embarrass or offend, sorry;-)

ya gotta admit it IS funny!

[Arrowhead1952]

The boy is now 14, and

Childers, 28,

so he is 14 years younger than she is

claimed she was trying to reassure her lover, who is 19 years older, that she would still want him as he aged.

I guess age does not matter to this woman. 14 years younger or 19 years older - age is just a number.

Childers faces between 5 and 99 years in prison - is my suggestion.

[djf]

I guess I will say what 99.217% of American males think about this.

Damn!
Where were all these bus drivers when I was 12?

[Publius6961]

???

[Publius6961]

99.217% ?

[Consort]

Childers are like adulterators but they do it with children instead.

[Maceman]

She probably looks better with a smile and a little make-up.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Yes 99.217%.

It's been well documented in countless government and private studies that have been devoted to this issue over the years. :-)

[Blood of Tyrants]

Are you SURE you would desire to have sex with this woman when you were 12?

[Maceman]

She probably looks better with a smile and a little make-up.

[djf]

Hey, I'm not the one who wrote the book on Natural Law!

The very little I remember of being 12, oh well, she looks better than a knothole in a pine tree.

[NeonKnight]

Though I find this a bit morbid, and feel this lady should be charged and punished, I also feel the charge was incorrect.

This appears to be consensual sexual contact between an adult and a minor. So where is the assault? Perhaps he was easily manipulated due to his youthful inexperience, but I still see no evidence of force. Perhaps contributing to the delinquency or some such charge would be more appropriate. The sentence should be based upon degree of damage and trauma inflicted upon the minor, though admittedly this may be impossible to determined for years to come.

[djf]

Pretty much my point. What are we gonna do, rally the legislature to pass a law saying exactly WHEN and WITH WHO a fellows first sexual encounter should be?

Fey on it!

[NerdDad]

You're right. At that age, trees look good to a boy. If a woman who is not totally hideous wants a little afternoon delight....it's on.

I thought the same as you...where were these women when I was 12-18 years old? I never rode a bus and I only recall a couple teachers who were young and attractive enough to not frighten a teenager. Those teachers stirred the bathroom fantasies of many a boy back then but that's all we ever got.

[djf]

Kid'll be fourteen before they wipe the smile off his face.