Local Women Facing Charges in School Bus Assault Incident, Says Chief

A mother and grandmother have been charged with multiple offenses after a recent fracas occurring on a Toms River Regional School District bus, according to information from Chief Michael Mastronardy of the Toms River Township Police Department.

“Officer Pam Slaven, who is responsible for the intermediate and elementary schools in the township, investigated a simple assault incident that occurred Friday morning on a Toms River school bus,” said the chief.

Both witnesses and the bus driver claimed that 28 year-old Rebecca Sardoni, a a Martin Road resident, boarded the bus on Friday morning, during a routine pickup of East Dover Elementary School students at the intersection of First and Martin Avenues.

Sardoni inquired as to who “Vinny” was, and when the student identified himself, according to Mastronardy, Sardoni approached him while using profanity and slapped the 9 year-old child in the face. In the process, Sardoni also slapped another boy sitting next to her first victim.

At that same moment, witnesses reported that the woman’s mother, 51 year-old Stephanie Sardoni, of Spray Avenue in Beachwood, also boarded the bus at this time, and began using profanities and yelling at the students.

“Witnesses stated that the mother was using vulgarity in front of all the students and referring to a problem with her daughter, and she was going to take the young boys to court,” said Mastronardy. The boys who were assaulted were treated by Toms River school nurses for cuts to their mouths, with one of them later taken by his parent Community Medical Center for treatment of a neck injury.

The chief stated that Rebecca Sardoni was arrested and charged with simple assault, criminal trespass and making terroristic threats. Stephanie Sardoni was charged with criminal trespass for entering the bus and both were released on summonses.

“The investigation by Officer Pam Slaven, Detective Glen Lucas and Alex Scherer is continuing. The Department compliments the professional assistance they received from the Superintendent Frank Roselli and East Dover Principal Linda Downing and their staff in investigating this incident,” Mastronardy said.

Stay informed of the latest Toms River area news by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and subscribing to our newsletter.