Willie R. Leonberger, 77, of Auxvasse, did not appear in court Friday for his arraignment before Associate Circuit Judge Carol England. However, his attorney, Jerome S. Antel III, waived the arraignment on his behalf.
Leongberger - who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the second degree in the death of 6-year-old Hunter Pitt - is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19. The Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed the manslaughter charge May 20 after an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol concluded that Leonberger, a North Callaway School District bus driver, did not follow protocol when Pitt exited the bus on Jan. 18. Leonberger hit and ran over the Williamsburg Elementary School student in front of Pitt's home in Williamsburg.
Leonberger was taken into custody May 25 and posted a bond on the same day.