Print edition: 
A former Wichita school bus driver came to court Thursday 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, which is an element required under the law.
Judge Greg Waller would not accept the plea and set Reynolds over for trial.
Reynolds was employed by Durham School Services, the private employer of bus drivers for Wichita public schools, when the alleged incidents occurred. He was fired after being charged in January 2009.
The problems with Thursday's plea hearing began when Waller asked Reynolds to describe what he did on one of four occasions that have him charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Reynolds began describing a bladder problem, and that he was running late one day in November of 2008 and forgot to zip his pants. Reynolds said when he put the girl in her seat and buckled her up, she touched his genitals.
"Are you telling me this child, this 6-year-old child, would fondle you?" Waller asked.
Reynolds, according to authorities, engaged in lewd fondling with the girl on four occasions from October 2008 to January 2009.
Kansas law defines aggravated indecent liberties with a child as: "Any lewd fondling or touching of the person of either the child or the offender, done or submitted to with the intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the offender, or both."
Because Reynolds wouldn't admit he submitted to the touching, or used it to gratify sexual desires, Waller could not accept the plea.
Reynolds has already waived his right to a jury trial. He is set for a bench trial, where a judge will decide whether he's guilty of the offense, in two weeks.
In bench trials both sides can agree to the facts without presenting any testimony or limiting the evidence required.
If convicted, Reynolds faces 25 years-to-life in prison under Kansas' Jessica's Law for child sex offenders.
