Seven Students in Bulloch Charged With Battery, Bus Driver Arrested on Charges of Cruelty to Children and Failure to Report Child Abuse

Seven students in Bulloch County have been charged with battery and suspended from school, and a bus driver has been arrested on charges of cruelty to children and failure to report child abuse, all stemming from an incident on a morning bus route on April 18. After receiving a report of a child attacked on a school bus, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation and determined that seven students, ages 5 – 14, initiated a physical attack on 7 year old student.

From BCSO: On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 the Bulloch County Sheriff’s SRO (Deputy Julian Carter Brown) who is assigned to the William James Middle School, received a report of an attack on a child during the morning bus route on Friday, April 18, 2025. Upon receiving this report, the Bulloch Co Sheriff’s Office SRO division opened a criminal investigation into the incident. During this investigation it was determined that 7 students (ages 5-14) initiated a physical attack on 7 years old student during this morning bus route to the Mattie Lively Elementary School. It was determined that this attack occurred while the bus was traveling on Highway 301 North, Statesboro, Ga. (Bulloch County, Ga) After reviewing the video footage from the bus camera, the 7 students were identified and charged with BATTERY. The information regarding the arrests of these juveniles will be forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Justice for further court proceedings. All the juveniles have also been suspended from their respective schools.

Furthermore, during the investigation a determination was made that the bus driver, JOEY EDWIN JACKSON (70 years of age) has been charged with Cruelty to Children 2 nd degree, and Failure to Report child abuse. Information obtained from the Bulloch County Board of Education reflects that JACKSON is no longer employed by the Board of Education. Sgt Bubba Revell (Bulloch County SRO Division) has been actively assisting in this investigation while communicating with the Administrators and Officials of the Board of Education and each school involved.

Should you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Sgt Revell at (912)486-5926.

P. Todd Hutchens, Captain
Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office