School bus driver pleads guilty to DWI

BROWNSTOWN - A school bus driver has pleaded guilty to a felony count of driving while intoxicated with high school cheerleaders aboard her bus.

Sylvia A. Cooke, 62, New Albany, will be sentenced by Jackson Circuit Judge Bill Vance during a hearing set for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 5.

Cooke pleaded guilty to a Class D felony count of driving while intoxicated. The charge is considered a felony because Cooke pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or greater, she's older than 21 and had passengers younger than 18 years of age in her vehicle, according to court records.

Those passengers were cheerleaders with New Albany High School.

The bus was en route to New Albany following a football game Sept. 1, 2006, at Jennings County High School in North Vernon when the cheer coach, Michelle Lozier, asked Cooke to pull off Interstate 65 and park the bus because of concerns with Cooke's driving, according to an affidavit from Trooper Zachariah Ruble.

Cooke's plea came without a sentencing recommendation from Prosecutor Rick Poynter's office. That means Vance has discretion in the sentencing.

Under state law, the sentence ranges from a minimum of six months to three years, with a recommendation of 18 months.