Ex-bus driver’s ‘stress episode’ causes mistrial in child sex case

Circuit Judge Kathy King Jackson declared a mistrial Thursday in the child-sex case against former Ocean Springs school bus driver Sergio Sandoval, who reportedly had fallen ill.

Jackson also ordered a psychiatric competency exam and ordered Sandoval taken into custody.

Sandoval was standing trial on charges he molested and sexually assaulted an 8-year-old Ocean Springs girl who rode his school bus.

Jackson announced it’s possible she could set a new trial date in April.

District Attorney Tony Lawrence expressed frustration after the mistrial.

“The court followed the law as set by many Supreme Court rulings,” he said.

“While it is extremely frustrating that, at times, it seems like defendants can delay justice and the victim is left again to wait, the rules of our law and our Constitution must be followed. We will push as fast as possible to get a new trial date once the competency issue is resolved.”

The issue of malingering — faking an illness — became a concern of prosecutors after Jim Davis, Sandoval’s attorney, asked for a mistrial.

Sandoval had fainted at the Jackson County Courthouse on Wednesday, but it didn’t happen in public view. He was taken to Singing River Hospital and was discharged in time to return to court Wednesday afternoon.

Jackson stopped the trial Thursday after hearing testimony from hospital staff.

Hospital staff said his illness was stress-related, Davis said.

Sandoval, 67, is accused in the molesting of an 8-year-old Oak Park Elementary student while she rode his school bus in September and October 2014.

He called the girl by terms of endearment, named her a bus monitor and had her stand up front near him as he drove, according to testimony and surveillance footage shown to jurors.

This story was originally published February 9, 2017 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Ex-bus driver’s ‘stress episode’ causes mistrial in child sex case."