Ex-Bus Driver Returns To Mass. To Face 1998 Child Rape Charges

SAUGUS, MA – A former bus driver accused of kidnapping and raping a special needs student in Saugus in 1998 has been returned to Massachusetts to face charges, according to reports. Henry Gonzalez, 44, formerly of Lynn, was located in the Dominican Republic in May and extradited to the United States Thursday night. He was flown into Logan Airport and taken to the Saugus Police Department, where he will be held until is appearance in Essex Superior Court, NBC Boston reported.

In 1998, Gonzalez worked as a special needs school bus driver. He is accused of picking up a 13-year-old girl with special needs from her home in Saugus on Dec. 16 of that year and driving her to a relative's home in Lynn, where he repeatedly raped her, state police said. He then dropped her off at Square One Mall, according to police.

Gonzalez was later arrested and charged with two counts of rape of a child with force, two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14 and kidnapping. He posted bail and did not appear at his scheduled trial date in June of 2000.

Gonzalez was added to the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted list in 2001.

Image via MSP