Maryland woman charged with school bus theft pleads guilty
Nicole Jo-Ann Adams pleads guilty to second degree burglary and theft and is sentenced to 10 years on each count. In October, Adams, along with a second suspect, stole a special-needs school bus from a lot and crashed it.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Nicole Jo-Ann Adams, a woman charged in the theft of a special-needs bus last fall, has been sentenced after entering a guilty plea, WBALTV reports.
The Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office told the news source that Adams pleaded guilty to second degree burglary and theft. She was sentenced to 10 years on each count, five years of supervised probation and to pay $10,000 in restitution to Anne Arundel County, according to WBALTV.
A second suspect, Travis Edward Champagne, was also charged in the investigation.
In October, the Anne Arundel County Police Department received a call from a bus company dispatcher regarding the theft of a school bus from a lot. The bus was found soon after in a wooded area. The suspects allegedly struck a tower with the bus, broke the windows, crashed it and attempted to set it on fire before abandoning it. They were apparently under the influence of alcohol and were looking for change to buy cigarettes, police said.
More Safety
Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?
NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.
Read More →
NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA
Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.
Read More →
How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs
Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.
Read More →
NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes
The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.
Read More →
2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing
New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.
Read More →
Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York
A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.
Read More →
NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners
Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.
Read More →
The Driver Shortage Playbook
Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →