Staff writer
Few details were available this week about a former Centre school bus driver’s conviction on charges of child endangerment and battery.
However, county prosecutor Susan Robson said that the case, which involved a 4½-year-old child in the defendant’s care, had nothing to do with her bus-driving duties, from which she resigned in February, after her initial arrest.
Danielle Hatfield, 27, Lincolnville, was originally charged with three counts of aggravated battery on or about Jan. 26. Those charges were reduced to two counts of simple battery as part of a plea bargain that that saw her sentenced June 14 to 18 months probation in lieu of two years in jail.
She also was ordered to have an anger management evaluation, write a letter of apology to the victim, and pay $593 restitution for medical and counseling costs. She was further ordered never to operate a day care service.
Initially, Hatfield’s bond included a stipulation that she have no contact with children under 14 or with the victim or victim’s family.
In March, the stipulation was amended to allow her unsupervised visitation with her own children. She was deemed not to be an ongoing threat.
Robson said the abuse victim had been under Hatfield’s care at the time of the incident but would not confirm physical injury to the child.
The family of the victim was contacted regarding the plea agreement and approved the terms, Robson said. The sentence was imposed in June.