A school bus driver who was fired after being investigated for inappropriately touching students, and then revealed to have a previously unknown sex crime conviction, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced this week in county court. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – The last chapter of a case involving accusations of a school bus driver inappropriately touching students, who was then revealed to have a previously unknown sex crime conviction, came to a close in Chenango County Court this week with the judge passing final sentence.

County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir commended the three teen student victims in the case who testified. “All three were very brave,” he said.

The defendant, Douglas C. Webb, 64, took the stand in his own defense at trial but declined to make a statement at his sentencing on Monday.

The judge explained a previous trial ended in a hung jury and then a plea deal was accepted as prosecutors prepared for another. Revoir said, “Complicated evidentiary issues can stand in the way of the- Did it or did it not happen?”

“You probably fooled your family into thinking this is a huge conspiracy,” Revoir said, noting they had supported the defendant in the case. Revoir recalled presiding over the first trial and viewing the evidence and testimony himself.

“I have no doubt in my mind, but I’m not the one who has to be convinced, a jury is,” he said.