Alleged Drunk Bus Driver Pleads Not Guilty

The Three Village school bus driver accused of driving drunk with a blood-alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit – while driving with a wheel missing from the bus – on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the 21 charges against him.

Robert Stundis, who was driving an ACME bus company vehicle serving the Three Village Central School District, faces 12 counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, a class E felony also known as Leandra's Law. He also faces six charges of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, along with charges of DWI and aggravated DWI.

According to police, Stundis, 48, of Bohemia, was driving a Ford mini-bus with one tire missing on the westbound lanes of the LIE at around 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 10 when police stopped him just east of Exit 60 in Ronkonkoma. Witnesses said they observed the bus being driven with a wheel missing.

Officers administered a series of sobriety tests at the time and said Stundis was intoxicated. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood-alcohol content of .23, nearly three times the legal limit of .08. No children were on board the bus at the time of his arrest, however Stundis allegedly admitted he had dropped off students earlier in the day. Police also discovered an open bottle of vodka on the bus.

Stundis was held Thursday night on $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.