SEVIERVILLE (WATE) - A Sevier County school bus driver was fired on February 10 for bringing her gun onto a bus, officials said Monday.
The driver was identified as Freida Rene Widner, 49, of Seymour.
Sheriff's officers responded to Seymour High School after they were contacted by Sevier County Schools Safety Director Terry Smith.
A custodian told Smith a student claimed Widner had a gun on the bus because there might be problems with students or parents at a place called The Stables.
Officers went to The Stables earlier on February 10 because Widner said there might be problems there. She said there was an incident of bullying on the school bus the day before and two girls were kicked off.
The bus made the student pick up Friday with no problems.
Later that day, Widner was taking a class from the high school on a field trip when administrators contacted the teacher and asked them to come back to school.
The students were taken off the bus. Then Smith questioned Widner, who told him she had a gun in a safe place, according to the sheriff's office.
Smith found a small caliber gun in Widner's purse. Widner admitted the gun was hers, the sheriff's office says.
She was taken into custody and charged with carrying a weapon on school grounds, a Class E felony. She was said to be in full compliance with the deputies at the time of her arrest.
Widner was also fired on the spot. Her attorney, Brian Delius, has advised her not to go on camera, but he spoke with 6 News. "There is an affirmative defense for carrying a gun onto school property, and we'll look to see if that defense is available for Miss Widner," he said.
"No students were threatened or harmed," said Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Debra Cline on Monday in a press release.
Delius says Widner will likely forego her arraignment hearing and proceed to her preliminary hearing.
6 News Reporter Jessa Lewis contributed to this report.
Freida Rene Widner (source: Sevier County Sheriff's Office)
