Child Busing Owner Accused of Rape

The vans regularly seen outside Chelsea schools and day care centers transport young students home or to afterschool programs throughout the neighborhood. Now the owner of Maya Transportation faces accusations of raping a child in his care. Sergio Lara, 54, of Quincy, operates the independently contracted school transportation service that parents hire for additional transportation needs. He has been charged with sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl. Revere Police arrested Lara on Wednesday, March 2. Suffolk prosecutors brought him before Chelsea District Court on one count each of rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child. He was held on $100,000 cash bail with a court date set for March 31. At the prosecution’s request, additional conditions were imposed: Lara must avoid the victim and her family, stay away from children under 16 unless their parents are present, refrain from work involving contact with children under 16, surrender all travel documents, remain in Massachusetts, and wear a GPS monitoring device if released on bail. Maya Transportation, owned and operated by Lara, provides shuttle services for children attending schools in Chelsea, Revere and East Boston. A five-year-old Everett girl who was his passenger told her mother on Tuesday that Lara had sexually assaulted her during the ride home from school. Her parents brought her to a local hospital that evening and reported the incident to police. Lara was identified and arrested the following day. “Too often, the victims of abuse are afraid or ashamed to disclose what happened, but this child did exactly the right thing,” said Suffolk County D.A. Daniel Conley. “Telling her parents right away allowed investigators to take rapid action and have him held on high bail. She’s a smart, brave little girl.” Attorney Matthew Machera represented Lara at the arraignment. He is scheduled to return on March 31 for appointment of new counsel. Chelsea schools has no current contract with Maya Transportation and never has had one. The service operates through direct arrangements between parents and the company for transportation from school to afterschool programs or home.