Opinion ID: 2272101
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tracy

Text: Tracy, then thirty-seven years old, has a severe developmental disability. Tracy worked at the LaPlante Center for four years prior to the alleged assaults, and she took the RIde bus to the LaPlante Center each day. Tracy testified that Mr. Rivera sexually assaulted her twice when they were alone together on the bus. The first sexual assault allegedly occurred in the RIde bus while it was parked in the woods. [2] Tracy testified that defendant removed her pants, and she hit her head against the corner of the bus window. Tracy further stated that defendant touched her breasts under her bra without her consent. The defendant, according to Tracy's testimony, also touched his penis to her vagina. She further testified that [h]e tried to go inside with mine. Tracy stated that she told Mr. Rivera, no, stop it and [p]lease, stop it. The second assault allegedly occurred while the RIde bus was parked behind a church. According to Tracy's testimony, Mr. Rivera and Tracy were alone together on the bus when he removed her socks, pants, and one of her shoes. She said defendant touched his penis to her private area in front and touched her breasts under her clothing and bra. Tracy further testified that [a]ll white stuff came out of defendant's penis and that she told defendant to stop, but he continued to assault her. Mr. Rivera told Tracy, according to her testimony, not to tell her parents, or she would get in trouble. Tracy stated that when she arrived home, she told her mother that she had to wash her hands because she had sticky stuff on them. Tracy testified that she ultimately reported the incident to her mother, although she was too scared to tell her mother at first. Tracy said that she first spoke to Deborah about Mr. Rivera and, some time after, they both told their mothers about the assaults. Her mother testified that she remembered the day she got off the bus and was not acting like herself, but her mother could not recall the exact date. On July 13, 2005, Tracy went to a physician's assistant, Josephine Barns-Brown, and, according to Ms. Barns-Brown, Tracy reported that she had lumps on her pee-wee and her left inner thigh. Ms. Barns-Brown testified that she was unable to determine the exact date of the assaults, that Tracy's hymen was intact, and that Tracy's mother had not found blood in Tracy's underwear. Although Tracy testified that she had lumps on her breasts and hip, Ms. Barns-Brown testified that she did not find any such lumps or bumps. Mr. Rivera denied assaulting Tracy and, in fact, testified he was never alone with Tracy on the bus. The defendant stated that when he announced to his passengers he was going to be transferred to another route, Tracy was angry, upset and was in tears. Tracy testified that she told defendant you're not going anywhere; you're going to be my bus driver. Tracy indicated that she wanted to get Mr. Rivera fired because she was upset that he was changing routes. Detective Patrick Strickland testified that he spoke to Tracy's mother in the course of investigating the allegations against defendant. Tracy's mother reported, according to Det. Strickland, that Tracy told her that defendant exposed his penis to her [and] asked her if she wanted to play a game, but that defendant never touched her. Detective Strickland testified, however, that when he spoke with Tracy, she reported, consistent with her own testimony, that defendant vaginally raped her and touched her breasts over and underneath her clothing. Tracy reported to Det. Strickland that this occurred while defendant and Tracy were alone together on the bus, parked in the woods. B