Hillsborough County Bus Aide and Driver Arrested After Alleged Abuse of Child with Autism Caught on Camera

A deeply disturbing investigation in Hillsborough County has led to the arrest of a school bus aide and a bus driver after authorities say a 10-year-old child with autism was repeatedly abused on a school bus, while the driver allegedly laughed and failed to intervene.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the abuse occurred on a Hillsborough County Public Schools bus parked at Caminiti Exceptional School in Tampa. The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of children with disabilities during school transportation and the systems meant to protect them.

Deputies began investigating the incident on November 14, 2025, after a witness reported seeing a bus aide strike a child while the bus was parked at the school.

Investigators say the child:

• Is minimally verbal
• Has diagnoses of autism and ADHD
• Was unable to report the abuse himself

Surveillance footage reviewed on November 18, 2025, allegedly shows Juanita Wright, 79, repeatedly abusing the child. According to HCSO, additional video later revealed 13 more days of abuse between October 2 and November 14, 2025, bringing the total to 14 documented incidents.

Sheriff Chad Chronister described the conduct as prolonged and intentional, stating that the bus aide “terrorized this child.”

The video footage also allegedly shows Tonya Rice-Constant, 62, the bus driver, laughing during the abuse and failing to intervene or report the conduct at any point.

“At no point during any of these 14 incidents did she attempt to intervene or stop,” Sheriff Chronister said.

Authorities emphasized that Florida law requires school personnel to immediately report suspected child abuse, especially when a child is unable to protect or advocate for themselves.

On January 26, 2026, deputies arrested both women:

• Juanita Wright was charged with 14 counts of child abuse
• Tonya Rice-Constant was charged with failure to report child abuse

Investigators believe additional incidents may have occurred but noted that bus surveillance footage only retains recordings for 30 days.

According to the sheriff’s office, school staff noticed:

• Bruising near the child’s eyes and ears
• Significant behavioral changes
• Fear and distress when it was time to board the bus

These signs are commonly associated with abuse, particularly in children with developmental disabilities who may express trauma through behavior rather than words.

Hillsborough County Public Schools released a statement saying:

• The bus aide was removed from duty and terminated
• The bus driver retired during the investigation
• The district is cooperating fully with law enforcement

The district stated that it trains transportation staff on safety, student care, and mandatory reporting responsibilities.

While the criminal justice system addresses punishment, cases like this also raise serious questions about supervision, training, and oversight in school transportation programs—especially for children with special needs.

When abuse occurs repeatedly over weeks, it often signals systemic failures, not just individual misconduct.

Issues that may require further scrutiny include:

• Monitoring and review of bus camera footage
• Staff training on disability care and de-escalation
• Mandatory reporting compliance
• Safeguards for nonverbal or minimally verbal students
• Response protocols when behavioral changes or injuries are observed

Sheriff Chronister said detectives are continuing to review footage and are working to determine whether other children may have been victimized.

Authorities are asking any parents who believe their child may have been abused, mocked, or mistreated by the individuals involved to contact the sheriff’s office.

School transportation staff are entrusted with one of the most basic and critical responsibilities: keeping children safe. When that trust is violated—particularly involving a child who cannot speak for themselves—the harm extends far beyond physical injury.

“This case goes far beyond abuse,” Sheriff Chronister said. “It reveals a level of cruelty that is deeply disturbing.”

Children with disabilities rely entirely on the adults around them for protection. When that protection fails, accountability must follow—not only to address what happened, but to prevent it from happening again.

As this case continues, it serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance, oversight, and immediate action when a child’s safety is at risk.