A Kentucky judge has refused to reduce a $50,000 cash bond for a woman accused of hitting a 10-year-old girl as she tried to board a school bus.
Prosecutors argued that releasing the defendant would put the community at risk.
Ashley Parsons, 39, faces charges including first-degree assault, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident after the Aug. 20 crash in Georgetown, according to court records.
During a hearing Tuesday, her attorney asked the court to change her bond to $100,000, with 10 percent required for release, which would have allowed her to post $10,000.
Judge Kathryn Gabhart rejected that request and kept the existing cash-only bond in place. Prosecutors argued that the allegations, along with statements Parsons allegedly made to police about her drinking, raised serious concerns about public safety.
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According to WKYT, Georgetown Police Officer Isaac Shelton testified that the school bus driver extended the stop arm and honked the horn to get the approaching vehicle to stop. The warning did not prevent the collision, according to Shelton’s testimony.
After officers located Parsons, Shelton said she showed signs of intoxication and her vehicle had fresh damage to its front end. During questioning, Parsons allegedly told police she drank half a gallon of vodka after work each day and then drove around town.
Shelton also testified that Parsons recalled seeing a stopped school bus but said she did not remember its stop sign or any children nearby.
“I asked her if she recalled seeing a school bus, and at that point Ashley Parsons stated that she remembered seeing a stopped school bus, but she did not remember the stop sign being out or any children being present,” Shelton said.
Parsons has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to the report. Her attorney, Zach Buckler, argued that the current bond effectively keeps her jailed while the case proceeds, even though the charges remain allegations.
Buckler said the defense recognized the case’s seriousness and proposed a higher bond amount with a smaller upfront payment, rather than asking the court to lower the total. He also offered to accept additional restrictions on Parsons’ release.
“The purpose of bond is primarily to ensure that a defendant appears back in court; it is not intended to be punitive or to assume that a defendant is guilty while their case is proceeding,” Buckler said.
Parsons’ existing bond conditions include a prohibition on driving, random drug testing, alcohol monitoring and GPS monitoring.
Prosecutor Mary Tobin urged the judge to leave the bond unchanged, pointing to the alleged decision to leave after a crash that seriously injured a child. Tobin also told the court that one charge carries a potential prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.
The girl’s parents also spoke during the hearing and asked the judge not to ease the conditions keeping Parsons in custody.
“She kept going; she’s a danger. Come on now, y’all can’t say she’s not a danger to the community. She has kids, and she’s a danger to her own kids,” the parents said.
Gabhart sided with prosecutors, saying the potential risk to the public outweighed Parsons’ ability to secure her release. The judge pointed to the alleged drinking and the circumstances surrounding the crash as reasons for concern.
“These are all factors that cause this court grave concern about Ms. Parsons being a danger to the public,” Gabhart said.
The judge left open the possibility of another bond hearing if the defense believes evidence collection is taking too long. Parsons will return to court on Dec. 11.
Georgetown police said the crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Aug. 20 in the Mount Vernon Drive area, as a student crossed the roadway near the school bus. Authorities allege the driver failed to stop, provide assistance, or remain at the scene.
Police later located Parsons and the vehicle in Georgetown. The student suffered a concussion and required stitches to her forehead, although police said she had no broken bones.
Georgetown Police Capt. Lewis Crump told LEX News that children should be able to board their school buses without fear of being hurt.
“They’re getting on the bus to go to school to learn and be good members of our society, and we want to make sure that happens,” Crump said.
