PROBATION FOR FORMER SOMERVILLE TEACHER CHARGED IN SCHOOL BUS INCIDENT

  

A former Somerville teacher-coach has been sentenced to probation in connection to an incident earlier this year where a child was left on a school bus.

53-year-old Timothy Layne Galbreath of Brenham pled guilty Monday to Deadly Conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and received two years’ deferred probation as part of a plea agreement.  Galbreath will also have to pay a $2,500 fine and undergo 250 hours of community service.

According to Burleson County District Attorney Julie Renken, the court will withhold a finding of guilt until he serves his probation. She said, if he serves it successfully, he will not be convicted.  However, if he violates probation, he could spend up to a year in the Burleson County Jail.

Galbreath was indicted in April by a Burleson County grand jury, after his arrest in January on the charge. He has been free on $7,500 bond, and resigned from the school after previously being placed on administrative leave with pay by the Somerville school district.

The charge stems from an incident in January where a student was left on a school bus throughout the day until the afternoon. The child remained on the bus driven by Galbreath on his morning route, and was discovered by an afternoon bus driver behind the high school gym, where the bus had been dropped off.

Somerville ISD Superintendent Karla Sparks said at the time that the student was unharmed and considered to be fine, after being looked over by the school health officer after the incident. Sparks said the child’s parents, Somerville police, and Child Protective Services were all notified.

According to Sparks, Galbreath was a full-time high school teacher and coach, in addition to his bus driving responsibilities.