A former school bus driver pleaded guilty Tuesday in Buffalo City Court to one count of endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.
On April 20, prosecutors said, 68-year-old Michael Askew of Cheektowaga made a verbal threat toward a student while on a school bus in the 300 block of Roehrer Avenue on Buffalo's East Side. Askew was subsequently fired from his bus driving job.
Buffalo police, as part of their investigation into the threat incident, obtained a temporary extreme risk protection order, also known as a "red flag order."
During an April 25 search of his Woodbridge Avenue home, investigators found an illegal rifle with a pistol grip and detachable magazine. Three handguns, legally owned by Askew, were also seized under the temporary order. He was later indicted on two felony gun charges. Both counts were dismissed Tuesday as part of the plea agreement.
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Also on Tuesday, a final order of protection was issued for the victim and two other students were on the bus during the incident.