SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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. 

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
April 11, 2016
Teens Charged in School Bus Vandalism Incident

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

2 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

“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

Rows of yellow school buses parked in a lot with “Diesel Still Dominates” graphic overlay highlighting continued diesel use in school transportation fleets.

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 VAMPLIERS multi-purpose screw extractor long nose pliers with crimper designed for maintenance, wiring and damaged fastener removal.
MaintenanceMay 11, 2026

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 →
A Noregon representative stands at the company’s ACT Expo booth promoting smarter vehicle diagnostics, telematics integration, and maintenance tools for commercial and school bus fleets.
Maintenanceby Amanda HuggettMay 9, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
zonar system image
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026

Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.

Read More →
Fleet manager reviews maintenance and performance data on dual computer monitors.
MaintenanceApril 27, 2026

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 →
Matthews Bus Company maintenance team members stand in front of a yellow school bus, recognized by Pennsylvania State Police for fleet safety, cleanliness, and inspection performance.
Maintenanceby News/Media ReleaseApril 22, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
zonar system image
SponsoredApril 20, 2026

2026 State of Student Transportation Report

Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.

Read More →
Transfinder promotional graphic featuring “P.A.Y.S. – Pay As You Save” surrounded by icons of school transportation operations (bus, maps, calendar, clock, documents, and money), with tagline about saving time, money, and headaches in school transportation.
SponsoredApril 16, 2026

How Transfinder Technology P.A.Y.S. (Pays as You Save) Saving Time, Money and Headaches in School Transportation Operations

Transportation leaders say when their districts implemented Transfinder's AI enhanced logistics technology, it paid for itself in financial savings, time savings and operational headache reductions (OHR). In this white paper transportation experts share specific ways they have experienced how Transfinder P.A.Y.S. (Pay As You Save) off. Each, in their own way, said transportation technology is not simply a software purchase — it’s a strategic investment in operational efficiency, cost containment and staff satisfaction.

Read More →
Row of yellow school buses with overlay text reading “The essential guide to school bus fleet maintenance: Maximizing safety and uptime” and the Geotab logo.
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

The New Playbook for Safer, Smarter School Bus Maintenance

As school districts juggle aging buses, technician shortages and rising safety expectations, proactive fleet maintenance is becoming essential. This guide explores how telematics, predictive maintenance and real-time vehicle data can help transportation departments reduce breakdowns, extend vehicle life, improve compliance and keep students safer on the road.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

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 →