A Rochester man and East Irondequoit School District employee was arraigned Monday evening for allegedly driving a school bus with children inside while he was intoxicated.

Anderson Hollins was arrested earlier Monday after being tested by the Department of Transportation.

Prosecutors say Hollins was driving a bus full of kids with a blood alcohol level of .12. He has been placed on administrative leave.

anderson hollis
Anderson Hollins, 54, faces nine felony charges after driving a school bus with a BAC of .12 while children were on board.

According to court paperwork, a supervisor could smell alcohol on Hollins' breath and asked him if he had been drinking. His response was, "I can't believe there is testing the day after the Super Bowl."

“This is an unfortunate situation and one of the reasons why some of those protocols are put in place by national standards and legal standards with the drug testing policies and procedures," said Irondequoit Police Chief Richard Tantalo. "I applaud the school district for working to make sure that that policy was followed and we have an individual who will no longer be operating a school bus and ensuring the safety of our children.”

Charges include aggravated driving while intoxicated, operating a school bus with passengers, and seven counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.

Police say seven students ranging in age from five to 11 years were on the bus to Holy Cross School on Lake Avenue.

Court paperwork says Hollins worked as a bus driver within the East Irondequoit School District for a year. Previously, he was employed by RTS for nine years. 

He was taken to the Monroe County Jail, with bail set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Hollins is due back in Irondequoit Town Court Friday afternoon. At that preliminary hearing, the judge will decide whether or not to suspend his license.