School Bus Driver Faces Credit Card Fraud, Drug Charges

Fayetteville, N.C. — A school bus driver and custodian stole a credit card from a high school teacher and also sold cocaine from her home, deputies said Monday.

Tarsha Rena Cole, 36, of 8005 Twisted Oaks Drive, stole a credit card from a teacher's purse at Cape Fear High School, investigators claimed.

Cole charged more than $2,500 buying items at a local toy store and paying bills. She maxed out the card's credit limit, and the card company denied more charges, officials said.

Deputies discovered cocaine and a firearm while searching the home Cole shared with her boyfriend, Richard Tyrone McDonald, 39.

Both Cole and McDonald were charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, manufacture of cocaine and maintaining a dwelling for the sale and delivery of cocaine.

Cole also faces charges of forgery and uttering, credit-card fraud and identity fraud, while McDonald was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

The two were released from the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $25,000 unsecured bond. Their first court date was set for Monday.

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Latest Comments

...and isn't this LOVE YOUR BUS week, where you reward and thank bus drivers in the schools? what a fine 'thank you' this was!

djofraleigh
February 4, 2008 5:31 p.m.

Seemed like a good idea at the time??

letsroll65
February 4, 2008 5:26 p.m.

Yawning, she should also be charged with endangering the lives of the students she drove daily.

WhenWillitStop
February 4, 2008 5:23 p.m.

As a former bus driver, I have to wonder if random drug testing was done...Wake Co. does random testing. They came to my bus one morning, told me to get in the car, they were taking me and a couple of others to get tested. You don't argue, you just drop any plans and go. Too bad they probably didn't test her.