In a disturbing revelation of trust betrayed, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reported the arrest of two Hillsborough County Public Schools bus employees implicated in child abuse. The arrests came after an investigation was launched into the conduct of 79-year-old bus aide Juanita Wright and bus driver Tonya Rice-Constant, following reports of abuse directed at a 10-year-old student with Autism and ADHD at Caminiti Exceptional School.
A witness's report, dating back to November 14, 2025, sparked the investigation leading to the review of school bus video footage. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shared in a social media post that the footage showed Wright repeatedly abusing the child, and, Rice-Constant can be seen laughing during the incidents of abuse. The video evidence exposed the reccurring mistreatment over multiple days and led to the bus employees' arrests on Monday.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two Hillsborough County Public Schools bus employees following a child abuse investigation.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) January 30, 2026
On November 14, 2025, deputies began investigating after a witness reported a bus aide, Juanita Wright, 79, striking a 10 year old… pic.twitter.com/pir4XJRgPC
Reacting to the case, Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned the bus employees' actions in no uncertain terms. "This case goes far beyond abuse. It reveals a level of cruelty that is deeply disturbing," Chronister declared. He decried the offense as "an inexcusable betrayal of trust and a profound lack of humanity" in a statement obtained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
