Bedford Park News: Santa Spotted in the Bronx

Bedford Park News: Santa Spotted in the Bronx: BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 12- Santa had a busy time in the Bronx last week. First he attended the annual lighting of the Parkc...

Santa Spotted in the Bronx

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 12- Santa had a busy time in the Bronx last week. First he attended the annual lighting of the Parkchester Christmas tree at the Oval. The event, filled with local singers and dancers, was capped off with the

holiday lights inside Met Oval. Then Old St. Nick was on hand for the tree lighting at the Fordham BID.

Arthur Avenue kicked off the holiday season with a tree lighting and a visit from Santa. In addition, holiday carolers sang to inspire the crowd.

Bedford Park News: Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driv...

Bedford Park News: Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driv...: BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 19-year-old woman has been convicted of assaulting an...

Woman pleads guilty to doggone assault on bus driver

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 19-year-old woman has been convicted of assaulting an MTA bus driver after the driver refused to allow the defendant’s dog to board the bus.

Steangeli Medina pled guilty to assault in the second degree, the top count in the indictment, before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango. Under the plea agreement Medina will be sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation.

Medina has also agreed to waive her right to appeal the conviction and will complete a mandatory anger management program. The judge also issued an eight-year order of protection, which prohibits Medina from having any contact with the bus driver.

On December 12, 2013, the defendant will surrender and be held without bail pending a sentencing date which will be set once the Department of Probation has prepared a pre-sentencing report.

The assault occurred on June 21, 2011 at a bus stop on East Fordham Road and Third Avenue when the defendant became enraged because bus operator Marlene Bien-Aime would not allow Medina’s dog to get on the bus without being in a pet carrier. Medina dragged the driver out of her seat, off the bus and onto the sidewalk where Medina struck the victim repeatedly.

As a result, the victim sustained extreme facial bruising and swelling, suffered partial vision loss, which has since been restored, and underwent surgery for injuries to her knee and shoulders. The trauma resulted in the bus driver being off the job on a medical leave for one year.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hilary Chernin of the Trial Division.

Tags: Assault, Bus Driver, Dog