Former Utah School Bus Driver Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Starting School Bus Fire

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was sentenced to 60 months' imprisonment for setting a school bus on fire in 2023.

The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Sam, came after Ford pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, to arson of a vehicle belonging to an organization receiving federal funds. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Ford was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $21,690.42 in restitution.

According to court documents and admissions made at Ford's change of plea and sentencing hearings, he intentionally set a Granite School District school bus on fire with a cigarette lighter on April 7, 2023. Ford was captured on video igniting the bus and continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. In other court documents, prosecutors stated that Ford attempted to tamper with the bus's video surveillance system in the days preceding the April 2023 arson. On a separate occasion in February 2022, Ford was also accused of setting a Granite School District school bus on fire that had 42 children inside and did so while driving in traffic, but the charge was dismissed as part of his plea agreement.

"Protecting our most vulnerable population is a top priority of this administration and my office," said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. "I want to thank our federal partners and my office who worked tirelessly on this case to bring it to a close and hold Mr. Ford accountable for his intentional disregard for safety and the law."

"ATF's top priority is protecting our communities from violent crimes, including acts of arson," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. "We commend our partners at the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office for their incredible work on this investigation, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah, which collectively ensured justice was served today."

The case was investigated jointly by the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant United States Michael J. Thorpe of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah is prosecuted the case.