Friday, February 23, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

WOODVILLE – The parents of a 9-year-old Wilkinson County Christian

Academy student have filed charges against a bus driver for allegedly

spanking their son with a paddle.

A spokesperson with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Department

said the department has issued a warrant for the arrest of Bernard

Waites, age unavailable, on the charge of simple assault on a

minor.

&uot;We just want to get across to him (that) he is not going

to abuse other kids,&uot; said Faye Adams, the mother of Dwight

Williams.

On Feb. 13, Adams said her son already had a bruise on his

hip from an injury he received on the playground at school and

was limping when he got into trouble on the school bus for talking.

Waites then hit her son three times with a paddle in the same

place as his earlier injury causing the bruise to worsen, Adams

said.

Waites admitted Friday to spanking the boy because he &uot;had

a ruckus on the school bus.&uot;

The students were in the midst of a &uot;great argument&uot;

said the bus driver with the Buffalo Bus Association.

Waites said he did not know about the boy’s previous injury

and said his spanking &uot;didn’t cause any injury of any kind&uot;

except maybe to sting the boy.

The Buffalo Bus Association approves of corporal punishment,

Waites said.