A New Jersey school bus aide convicted following the death of a child with special needs on the way to an elementary school was sentenced to three years in prison, less than what the victim's mother wanted. 

Amanda Davila was sentenced to jail Friday and ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution for child endangerment in the death of 6-year-old Fajr Williams. 

Williams died on a bus to Claremont Elementary School in Somerset in July of 2023. Video played during the trial showed her sliding down in her wheelchair and being strangled by a harness while Davila was on her cellphone and wearing earbuds. 

The jury found Davila not guilty of aggravated and reckless manslaughter, but convicted her on the lesser charge of child endangerment. She could have faced 20 years in prison if convicted on the more serious charges. 

Deceased girl's mother walks out of courtroom

The judge at the sentencing hearing agreed Davila's reckless behavior played a role in Williams' death. 

"She should have picked her head up and looked around. Had she done so, this tragedy could have been avoided," the judge said. 

Davila told the court she's remorseful. 

"I'm sorry for everything that happened," Davila said. "My heart goes out to the mother and the family." 

Najmah Nash, the deceased girl's mother, walked out of the courtroom before Davila spoke. 

"Don't want to hear it," Nash said.

At the end, Davila showed no emotion as she was handcuffed and taken away. 

"I prepared her, you know. I said, 'Amanda, if nobody died, you'd absolutely just get probation, 100%.' But I do understand it. You know, the judge is in a tough position, and the prosecutor," said Michael Policastro, Davila's defense attorney. "It's my hope now, I will apply her to this program and hopefully within 90 days she can get out."

Conviction could have carried 10-year sentence

Davila's child endangerment conviction was lowered when Policastro agreed to not ask for a retrial over his claims Nash was untruthful on the stand about a $5 million bus company settlement. He said if his 90-day request is denied, he does not think Davila will serve more than nine months behind bars. 

Nash, looking distraught, had no comment on her way out of court.

"[Davila's] 28 years old, I don't think she's ever had a speeding ticket, or anything like that," Policastro said outside the courthouse. "I do understand, though, the other side, and I think the judge is an extremely thoughtful, fair and excellent judge."  

Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael McLaughlin blasted the defense for initially trying to blame Nash for having her teenage daughter fasten Williams' harness.

"We are not here to victim blame, and that includes the victim's 14-year-old sister. She is not to blame. The woman to blame is sitting right here -- Amanda Davila," McLaughlin said. 

Prosecutors said Davila sent 34 text messages and planned a vacation during the bus ride when she should have been watching the girl.

Nash previously said she would keep fighting for a law in her daughter's name that would give bus aides more training.