More Charges for NJ Bus Driver

WATERFORD, NJ: February 7, 2002 — A school bus driver accused last month of raping a 13-year-old passenger has now been charged with attacking a second girl. Rodolfo Perez, 46, of Hammonton, was charged Friday with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact and child endangerment. The new charges involve a 14-year-old girl who also was a passenger on the bus, and are similar to those filed in the earlier case. Perez, who had been freed on bail following his first arrest, has since been returned to the Camden County Jail. Bail for the new charges was set at $75,000. Authorities would not discuss specific details of the new charges, but said Perez is accused of providing alcohol to the two girls.

Both victims are seventh-grade students at Hammonton Middle School. Waterford's seventh- and 11th-grade students are bused to the Hammonton school district as part of the Lower Camden County school district's dissolution.

School officials have said Perez was suspended Jan. 18 when the girl's mother notified police and school officials about the alleged abuse. He had been hired by the Hammonton district more than a year ago.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Perez were unsuccessful. No telephone listing in his name could be found and the name of his lawyer was not immediately available.

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Author: 6-ABC-AP