A school bus driver accused in December of mistreating a special-needs student during his daily ride to Ka'a'awa Elementary School pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Gilbert Ah Quin, who entered his plea before Judge Rhonda Nishimura, apologized in court for assaulting the child, said Jim Fulton, executive assistant to the prosecutor.

Ah Quin will spend four days in jail, undergo anger-management training and pay $300 to the state general fund and $165 to the crime victims' compensation fund.

If he complies with the terms of his release, his record will be wiped clean.

Ah Quin, who was 50 when arrested in January, and his aide, Alan Nagata, 60, were accused of abusing the 11-year-old boy by taping his mouth shut on Dec. 6 to keep him from singing, then verbally and physically abusing him further after the boy's mother filed a complaint with the school.

The mother said her son has an attention deficit disorder but is otherwise a normal student.

Nagata, also charged with three counts of third-degree assault, is scheduled to stand trial on May 8.

Reach Karen Blakeman at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.