School van driver charged with child rape in Brookline
BROOKLINE, Mass. --Brookline police have accused a school van driver of sexually assaulting an elementary school student.
Forty-one-year-old Israel Santiago of Roslindale pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Brookline District Court to two counts of aggravated rape, kidnapping and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
He was ordered held on $20,000 cash bail.
Investigators allege Santiago assaulted the girl in a parking lot Friday as she was being driven home from school in a van operated by YCN Transportation Inc.
YCN transports children and adults with special needs to schools and day programs.
The Norwood company said in a statement that Santiago has been employed for six years without incident and they're cooperating with police. The company says it performs criminal background checks on drivers.
