Print edition: 
WICHITA — A former Wichita school bus driver came to court this morning intending to plead guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a 6-year-old student on his route.
But when a judge asked Billy J. Reynolds to say what happened, the 75-year-old wouldn't admit to the crimes. Reynolds would say only that the girl fondled him, not that he led her to do it: an element required under the law.
Judge Greg Waller would not accept the plea and set Reynolds over for trial.
Reynolds' lawyer Jay Greeno tried to help give the judge a factual basis for the plea by pointing to evidence from a security video camera on the bus.
Greeno said the video showed that Reynolds would pull the bus over, make an unscheduled stop, then go to where the girl was sitting and hike his leg up to have her fondle him.
Reynolds said he would often put his leg up while talking to the children on the bus.
"Are you telling me this child, this 6-year-old child, would fondle you?" Waller asked.
Without Reynolds admitting his intention to gratify himself with the girl, Waller could not accept the plea.
Reynolds has already waived his right to a jury trial. He is set for a bench trial, before a judge, in two weeks.
Reynolds is charged with engaging in lewd fondling with the girl on four occasions from October 2008 to January 2009.
If convicted, Reynolds faces 25 years to life in prison under Kansas' Jessica's Law for child sex offenders.
