Steangeli Medina Pleads Guilty to Bus Op Assault; Gets Jail Time

Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime in court with ADA Hilary Chernin, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the People of the City of New York

DECEMBER 3 -- The long wait for justice in the case of Kingsbridge Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime, who was brutally assaulted in June of 2011, has been resolved by a guilty plea from the assailant in  Bronx Criminal Court. Steangeli Medina, who was a minor when the assault was committed but is now over 18, accepted a plea deal today to a D Felony, the top count of the indictment, and sentence of six months behind bars, five years probation, anger management, and an eight-year order of protection that will prevent her from boarding any bus driven by Ms. Bien-Aime. Ms. Medina also waives any right to appeal. She admitted her guilt on the record and stated that she assaulted Ms. Bien-Aime following a dispute over her dog not being allowed on the bus without a carrier. In a victory for the union's efforts to increase penalties on those attacking our members, Ms. Medina pled guilty to section 120.05(11) of the penal law, which is the statute designed to prevent assaults on MTA employees while in their official business capacity.