Overview
- Jean Charles, who was arraigned Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court, pleaded not guilty and was released on $15,000 bail with orders not to drive and to surrender his passport.
- Prosecutors told the court that Charles missed the proper stop, failed to account for 5-year-old Lens Joseph’s location, and drove off seconds later, with dashcam video and witness accounts cited as evidence.
- The state says Charles skipped a required pre-trip inspection that would have flagged a broken front crossing bar meant to keep children away from the bumper and a flat rear-left tire that should have grounded the bus.
- Records and company statements show his school bus certificate had lapsed in December 2024, Transdev had warned him to renew it, Boston Public Schools did not independently verify certifications, and his file listed four prior minor driving incidents and brief retraining.
- The broader accountability push includes a family lawsuit accusing Transdev of negligent hiring and missing safety tech such as crossing arms and pedestrian sensors, plus a city review that urged wide reforms to student transportation.