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The father of a juvenile seen fighting on a Union Local school bus in a social media video made a brief appearance Thursday in Belmont County Western Division Court.
David Miller, 50, of 42600 National Road Lot 65, Belmont, appeared briefly before Judge Eric Costine and pleaded not guilty to aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening the bus driver who was seen on video breaking up the fight and restraining Miller's son.
The video shows the boy shouting profanity at the driver and apparently striking him. The threats by Miller allegedly occurred after the boy was dropped off. Costine said the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.
School officials and the Belmont County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and found the driver had acted appropriately.
Miller asked for representation by the public defender, saying he was not employed.
Costine set Miller's pretrial conference for May 23 and released him on a recognizance bond, adding that he is to have no contact or communication with the driver.
The boy was taken into custody after the fight for allegedly making threats against the school on social media. Belmont County Juvenile Court Judge Al Davies said the 14-year-old has since been released from Sargus Juvenile Detention Center.
The boy faces two assault charges and one charge of making false alarms.
"He was arraigned on the complaint that had been filed," Davies said, adding the lawyer entered a denial and requested a pretrial hearing.
"He was released from the detention center (last week) subject to certain court orders, one of which being that he is not permitted to be on property owned or operated by the Union Local Board of Education. My understanding is he had been expelled. I also ordered that he is not to be permitted to use electronic devices," Davies said, adding that a pretrial conference will be scheduled.
The Union Local School District could not be reached for comment.