GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — MLive reports Marian Moussa, who admitted to taking a 3-year-old girl from a Grand Rapids school bus and driving the child around for three hours before turning her over to police, will not go to jail.
Moussa was sentenced to a year on probation on Tuesday in Kent County Circuit Court, according to the news outlet. She had been found not guilty of kidnapping on July 18 after a week-long trial and six hours of deliberation. The jury found her guilty of misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and resisting police.
On Jan. 14, 2013, Moussa took Maryanne Curiel from the bus she rode after school, MLive reports. She contacted authorities and made the false claims that she was related to the child, the child was being abused, the child had a bomb in her backpack, and the child was malnourished, according to court testimony. Police met Moussa in a church parking lot, where the child was returned to her parents, and arrested her. The news outlet reports that Moussa resisted arrest before she was charged with kidnapping.
A jury member said the prosecution “overcharged” Moussa and they could not find that she intended to kidnap the child, according to the news outlet. Moussa testified that she took the child and waited for the parents to show up, but when they didn’t she made every effort to return the child to authorities. In court on Tuesday, Moussa apologized for her behavior and again said that she did not intend to kidnap the child, according to MLive.
To read the full story, click here.
Woman who took girl from school bus will not get jail time
Marian Moussa, who admitted to taking a 3-year-old girl from a Grand Rapids school bus and driving the child around for three hours before turning her over to police, was found not guilty of kidnapping and was sentenced to a year on probation. A jury member said the prosecution “overcharged” Moussa and they could not find that she intended to kidnap the child.
More Safety

Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
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 →
NTSB Calls for Alcohol Impairment Systems, Seat Belts After W.V. Crash Investigation
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Read More →
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 →
2 Students Die in Tennessee School Bus Crash with Dump Truck
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Driver Shortages, EV Debates & Safety Upgrades
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Senate Report: Autonomous Car Companies Hiding Reliance on Remote Operators
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Read More →

