Greece, N.Y.- At a press conference Thursday, Greece Police said school bus monitor Karen Klein does not want to file criminal charges against the four students accused of bullying her on the school bus Monday.
A 10 minute-long video recorded by a student Monday includes vulgar and often vicious remarks aimed at 68-year-old Klein.
In the press conference Thursday, Greece Police said the four students involved are all seventh graders at Greece Athena Middle School.
Greece Police Captain Steve Chatterton said in New York State in order to charge someone under the age of 13, the action must rise to the level of a crime and they are still trying to detemine if a crime occurred.
"A lot of criminal prosecution relates to how you feel and how she interprets the threats and when your victim is telling you she doesn't feel threatened, well we picked up on that and thought we'd be able to move on that and bring that to the level of a misdemeanor," Chatterton said. "But based on her statement we were not able to do that."
Police spoke with Klein at her home on Thursday about her options and she decided not to file charges at this time.
Klein told 13WHAM that she is happy with the Greece Central School District's response to the situation and will let the school handle the disciplinary action against the students.
"Certainly the behavior is a clear violation of our code of conduct and will not be tolerated, disciplinary action to the fullest extent appropriate under New York State law will be taken," said Assistant Schools Superintendent Deborah Hoeft. "However as we discussed yesterday, it is not appropriate to discuss the consequences that will result for any student."
Police said the students and their families have been cooperative, no one has denied accountability, and they are taking responsibility for their actions. Chatterton also added that the students' families have been threatened.
