Teen pleads not guilty in Metro bus attack

A 14-year-old boy pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he assaulted a Metro bus driver who was knocked unconscious early Saturday.

The boy, a Renton High School student, made a brief appearance in King County Juvenile Court on two charges of assault. A court commissioner ordered that he remain in custody.

According to charging papers, the teen swore at the driver and "cussed" her out because she wouldn't let him out the back door of the bus after some of his friends were allowed to use the door. The incident occurred on Route 124 when the bus stopped on International Boulevard South in Tukwila.

The boy's mother said Thursday that her son is innocent and the victim of mistaken identity. She also said the boy was 14 and not 15 as previously reported by the Prosecutor's Office.

Two other boys, 16 and 17, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of malicious mischief for allegedly punching and kicking out windows on the back door of the bus.

The 17-year-old was ordered held in custody unless group care and electronic monitoring can be arranged; the 16-year-old has been released on electronic home monitoring.

Among those in the courtroom was Rick Sepolen, vice president and assistant business manager of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, who said he came "to show his support for the operator and to impress upon the individuals that more than one person was affected by the actions they took."

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com