Truesee's Daily Wonder

FAST FACTS:

• DeSoto County school bus driver busted for DUI off-the-clock
• District admits he was allowed to keep driving students for nearly two weeks after his arrest
• William Bentley is also a teacher and coach at DeSoto Central High School

 
(Southaven, MS 3/11/2011) A DeSoto County school bus driver won't be allowed to drive students, until administrators sort out allegations he was driving under the influence.

The charges did not come while the driver was on duty.

Tonight, the district's director of transportation admits, he didn't know about the arrest until we started asking questions.

William Bentley is a teacher, coach and bus driver for DeSoto County Schools. He was arrested nearly two weeks ago.

A concerned parent contacted WREG On Your Side Investigators, and we called the school district.

At first, the transportation director said he had been out of the country, and wasn't aware of any drivers facing charges.

But this afternoon, the district confirmed, the bus Bentley won't be behind the wheel as the investigation into what happened takes place.

According to the DeSoto County School District's website, Bentley is a social studies teacher and basketball coach at DeSoto Central High School.

Court records show the 29-year-old is facing DUI charges after he was arrested driving a pick-up truck on February 27.

Other details of the case are contained in a police report.

Today, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office told us it couldn't release that paperwork without a court order.

Bentley is free on a $1,000 bond.

In a statement this afternoon, a spokeswoman for DeSoto County Schools told us, the arrest occurred during non-school hours.

The district says Bentley reported the arrest the day after he was picked-up.

The spokeswoman called Bentley an "excellent employee with no previous driving violations."

He will be allowed to teach and coach.

The district confirms Bentley did drive students this morning, but as of this afternoon, the statement says Bentley "has been relieved of driving a school bus."

According to the district, Bentley still has a valid driver's license.

He didn't respond to a phone message we left for him at the school today.

A court date on the DUI charge is scheduled next month.