Jul 3, 2008 7:54 pm US/Eastern
Brooklyn Bus Driver Arrested For Alleged Sex Abuse
62-Year-Old Efim Bondarev Accused Of Inappropriate Touching Of 14-Year-Old Mentally Disabled Girl
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
A veteran school bus driver has been arrested in Brooklyn on charges that he sexually abused a 14-year-old student aboard his bus. Even more shocking, as CBS 2's John Slattery reports, the child was mentally disabled.
The driver arrested is 62-year-old Efim Bondarev, who is accused of sexually abusing a child entrusted to his care. He was a driver for Careful Bus Incorporated, a private bus company contracted by the Department of Education.
Police say it happened June 25 at PS 226 on 23rd Avenue. Officials say the bus had arrived along the side of the school at 7:45 a.m. Police say a bus attendant escorted a group of children off the bus. When she got back on, she saw the driver fondling a 14-year-old girl.
"She reported to us that she witnessed some physical contact, inappropriate physical contact between the driver and a child," said Marty Hoffman, the bus company owner.
Worst of all, the police say, the girl on the bus was mentally disabled.
"I have two children and two grandchildren. If anyone did anything to my children, I'd kill them with my bare hands," said Beverly Sumner, a neighbor of the suspect.
Bondarev's neighbors in his predominantly Russian building on Neptune Avenue in Coney Island were surprised, especially Bondarev's next-door neighbor.
"I never see him do anything, see anything. Good neighbor, every morning, good morning," said neighbor Boris Bondarsky.
The owner of the bus company said Bondarev, who has now been fired, worked there more than 20 years.
"He seemed like a regular person, he does his job. No history of any problems, obviously because he has continued to work here," said Hoffman.
Bondarev faces charges of sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. As for any future bus driving, the Department of Education has decertified him.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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