Teens Charged in School Bus Vandalism Incident
Two Missouri teenagers have been charged for allegedly vandalizing 18 school buses. The district's mechanics were able to get the buses repaired and running again within a day.

Two students allegedly deflated tires, destroyed valve stems, and smashed windows on 18 buses belonging to School of the Osage. Photo by Tony Hatfield.

MILLER COUNTY, Mo. — Two teenagers here have been charged for allegedly vandalizing 18 school buses last week.
The Miller County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Shane Sabourin,18, and Alexander Keith, 18, each with 18 counts of first degree felony tampering, according to a news release from the prosecuting attorney’s office.
The defendants, who are also students at School of the Osage, are charged with damaging 18 school buses in the district's fleet.
A Class C felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison, according to the news release. The defendants are in custody in the Miller County jail on a $200,000 bond.
School officials told ABC 7 News last week that the vandalism included deflated tires, destroyed valve stems, and smashed windows. Surveillance cameras at nearby businesses showed people walking across the bus yard at about 4:05 a.m. on April 4, said Tony Hatfield, transportation director for School of the Osage. Hatfield added that the district’s strong relationship with local businesses was helpful in getting the video surveillance footage and finding out what happened. “We couldn’t have done it without local businesses relationships. That was the key.”
The damage prompted school officials to cancel class on April 4, but they were able to resume classes the following day.
“We were up and ready to go around 4:00 [on Monday] afternoon,” Hatfield said.
A tweet from the district’s Twitter page shows some of the transportation department’s maintenance staff who worked to repair the buses.
SOTO will be in session tomorrow! We have the best maintenance staff at SOTO schools! Thanks guys! They got it done! pic.twitter.com/WsxkQCfZzC
— SOTOtransportation (@TonyHatfield7) April 4, 2016
More Maintenance
Cummins on Smarter, Simpler Engine Innovation
Cummins discusses its first-ever gasoline engine for school buses, EPA 2027, and why bus fleets still want durable, simpler internal combustion options.
Read More →
Report: 72% of Diesel School Buses Now Use Advanced Low-Emission Engines
New data shows advanced low-emission diesel technology continues expanding across school bus fleets, even as electric bus adoption gains momentum.
Read More →
Vampire Tools' CAIMAN 7.5-Inch Multi-Purpose Screw Extractor Long-Nose Pliers with Crimper
Vampire Tools introduced the VAMPLIERS Caiman 7.5-inch multi-purpose pliers, combining screw extraction, cutting, crimping, and gripping functions into a single tool designed for fleet maintenance professionals.
Read More →How Advanced Diagnostics Helps Bus Fleets Stay Ahead of Repairs
Chat with Noregon’s Kevin Smallhorn at ACT Expo about bus diagnostic tools, telematics integration, CNG maintenance support, and strategies to help reduce downtime and improve uptime.
Read More →
How School Bus Fleets are Getting Ahead of Breakdowns
Don’t let bus downtime wear you down. Here’s how bus operators are shifting from manual processes to AI-powered, data-driven maintenance systems for improved reliability and safety.
Read More →
Pennsylvania School Bus Maintenance Team Praised for Dedication to Safety
Matthews Bus Company’s West Jefferson received a letter of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police for their fleet inspections.
Read More →
From Chaos to Clarity: How School Districts Are Running Leaner Transportation Operations
Covering 38 routes on a Friday afternoon. Buses idling while routes overlap. Parents calling nonstop about late arrivals. Sound familiar? This whitepaper explores how district transportation leaders solved these exact problems — and what measurable results followed.
Read More →2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →2026 School Bus Maintenance Survey
What top challenges are school bus maintenance teams facing in 2026? Explore new trends from School Bus Fleet’s annual maintenance survey covering fleet composition and age, fuel types, used vs. new purchasing patterns, technician pay and certifications, and the impact of the driver shortage. Survey sponsor: Dayton Parts.
Read More →
Fleetio Launches AI-Powered Maintenance Service Advisor
The company’s new AI tool helps fleet managers approve repairs faster, prioritize maintenance, and reduce shop time across high-volume fleets.
Read More →
