A St. Croix student accused of attacking his school bus driver along with two others earlier this month will stand trial in March, according to a scheduling order filed Wednesday in the case.
Caleave Nigel Mascall Jr., 18, was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with third-degree assault, damaging or tampering with a vehicle and disturbance of the peace. He was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility but was released to a third-party custodian Oct. 16 after posting 10 percent of the $25,000 bail, according to court records.
Two minors who were arrested along with Mascall were released to their parents pending juvenile court proceedings. All three are students at St. Croix Central High School.
The attack occurred after a verbal altercation between the driver and the students as they were getting off the bus, the VIPD reported. Video of the incident showed the driver on the floor of the vehicle as he was punched and kicked, suffering injuries that required his hospitalization. Mascall allegedly then left the bus but returned to smash the glass in the door, according to the police.
The incident led to the suspension of all school bus services in the St. Croix district as drivers staged a two-day job action in support of their colleague, and was strongly condemned by the V.I. Education Department.
According to the scheduling order issued Wednesday following Mascall’s arraignment in V.I. Superior Court, a discovery conference will be held on Jan. 29, the final pre-trial conference on March 14, and jury selection and the trial on March 24 at 9 a.m.
Should there be a plea offer, it is due 10 days before the discovery conference in January, according to the order, though the court “strongly encourages” such offers be extended at the earliest possible stage of the proceedings.
