Thursday, 4:30 PM
BU sophomore arrested in Internet sex case
By David Abel, Globe Staff
A 20-year-old Boston University sophomore is facing charges that he sexually abused a 13-year-old girl he met on the popular website Facebook.com, prosecutors said.
James Bogush, of Ridgewood, N.J., was arraigned a week ago in Scarsdale Village Court on charges of second-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor, both misdemeanors, said Christina Frantom, a spokeswoman for the Westchester County district attorney's office.
Bogush and the girl, who also met on Espinthebottle.com, had been chatting online for about three weeks before they met for the first time near her house in Scarsdale on Oct. 5, Scarsdale police said. Bogush allegedly told her he was 16 years old. The two also met the next night.
On the second night, Bogush "forcibly touched her in her private areas," said Lieutenant Bryant Clark. Police that night did not find Bogush, who had dropped the girl off near her house. He turned himself into police before his Oct. 10 arraignment.
Colin Riley, a spokesman for Boston University, said officials there would evaluate the facts to determine whether to conduct an investigation.
Bogush's attorney didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.
