A former bus driver in Massachusetts, charged with raping a special needs child in 1998 before leaving the country, was ordered held without bond.
On Dec. 16, 1998, Henry Gonzalez, now 44, picked up a 13-year-old special needs student from her Saugus home. Instead of taking her to school, Gonzalez allegedly took her to an apartment in Lynn and raped her. He then dropped her off at the Square One Mall in Saugus.
In June 2000, Gonzalez was set to appear in court for his trial on charges of two counts of rape of a child with force, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and kidnapping. Gonzalez never showed up and fled the United States.
A warrant for his arrest was issued and 17 years later, he was found and arrested in the Dominican Republic. He was flown back to Boston and turned over to Massachusetts State Police on Thursday night.
Gonzalez was ordered held without bail at a default removal hearing in Salem Superior Court Friday. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27.
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