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.

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