Attorney general challenges bus kidnapper’s parole
The California Attorney General's Office files an appeal in the February ruling by the First District Court of Appeal to grant parole to 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapper Richard Schoenfeld. The appeal claims that the ruling misinterpreted the law governing Schoenfeld’s release.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The state Attorney General's Office is challenging a February ruling by the First District Court of Appeal to grant parole to a 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapper, the Fresno Bee reports.
The appeal filed with the California Supreme Court on Monday claims that the February ruling misinterpreted the law governing Richard Schoenfeld’s release. It argues that the ruling limited the parole board's ability "to enhance prison terms for certain inmates who received concurrent sentences" under a repealed indeterminate sentencing law, which provided for a wider range of potential sentences, according to the Fresno Bee.
As SBFpreviously reported, the other two kidnappers, James Schoenfeld and Frederick Woods, have never been found suitable for parole by the state board. The three men hijacked a bus carrying 26 children and their bus driver on July 15, 1976, and buried them alive in a rock quarry with the intention of ransoming them.
To read the full Fresno Bee story, click here.
More Safety
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →
Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights
New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.
Read More →
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →