Johnthony Walker stands for the reading of the verdicts
District Attorney Neal Pinkston gives a statement
Woodmore parents discuss the verdict
School bus driver Johnthony Walker was found guilty Thursday of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide in the deaths of six Woodmore Elementary school kids.
He had been charged with the more serious crime of vehicular homicide on the six counts.
Vehicular homicide carries a maximum sentence of six years, and criminally negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of two years. The prosecution can ask for consecutive sentences.
Walker was also found guilty by the jury from Clarksville, Tn. of reckless endangerment, reckless driving and use of a portable electronic device by a school bus driver.
He was found guilty of 11 counts of reckless aggravated assault in connection with students who were injured in the bus wreck on Talley Road on Nov. 21, 2016.
The jury found him guilty on six counts of assault in cases in which reckless aggravated assault was charged.
On cases in which he was charged with assault, he was found guilty of one count and not guilty of six counts. District Attorney Neal Pinkston said on the not guilty findings that the jury apparently felt the child did not suffer bodily injury.
Walker, 25, will be sentenced by Judge Don Poole on April 24 at 9 a.m. He remains free on bond.
The jury deliberated about 10 hours over two days.