SCHOOL BUS DRIVER INDICTED FOR THE ATTEMPTED RAPE OF A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the indictment of a 25 year old Bronx man on charges of attempted rape and other offenses in connection with the abduction of a 17 year old girl.

A grand jury indicted Nicholas Vegier on one count of Attempted Rape in the 1st degree, two counts of Sexual Abuse in the 1st degree, one count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the 2nd degree, one count of Resisting Arrest and one count of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. Vegier, of 120 Dekriuf Avenue, the Bronx, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in State Supreme Court, Part A on Monday, May 7, 2007. Vegier, who is licensed to drive both school buses and ambulettes, is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious offense of Attempted Rape in the 1st degree.

The alleged crimes occurred near the intersection of Magenta Street and Barnes Avenue shortly before 9:00 on the morning of February 19, 2007 as the young woman was walking to a bus stop to go to work. A witness observed the defendant grab the victim and force her into an ambulettte that he had left parked with the motor still running. The witness alerted police officers who were nearby in an NYPD radio patrol car. Vegier was arrested after the officers approached the van to investigate. According to court papers, the defendant forced the victim into the van and ordered her to lie down on the floor where he kissed her on the mouth before pulling up her shirt and exposing her breasts. He allegedly pulled off her shoes and pants and then exposed himself before removing her undergarments and fondling her.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Roger Canaff of the Child Abuse / Sex Offense Bureau.