Bronx Teen Accused Of Assaulting Bus Driver Over Chihuahua Appears In Court

By: Tina Redwine

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The teen who allegedly attacked a city bus driver following an altercation over an uncaged Chihuahua made a court appearance Thursday, and a judge said she may have to spend some time behind bars if her attitude doesn't improve. NY1’s Tina Redwine filed the following report.

Police say Steangeli Medina, 17, hit a bus driver in June. On Thursday, her mother hit one of NY1's cameras as they walked by outside of a courtroom in the Bronx.

Medina is facing felony assault charges for allegedly punching driver Marlene Bien-Aime in the face after Bien-Aime refused to let her bring her Chihuahua onboard unless she was in a carrier.

Medina's new lawyer, who was brought into the case on Thursday, said his client isn’t making statements.

Prosecutors offered Medina a plea deal of six months in jail, five years probation and a compulsory anger management course, but the judge gave her an extension until December 1 so her attorney can review the case.

Although Bien-Aime was not in court, 50 union members were there to show their support, including Sergio Barrios. He said he was hit by a teenager recently, but no one was caught.

Barrios added that six months in jail is not enough, especially because Metropolitan Transportation Authority figures show assaults against bus drivers and subway employees are up substantially from 2010.

“This has to stop, because we come to work, we have family, there might be an argument or whatever, but nobody has the right to put their hand on us,” said Barrios.

Three years ago, assaulting a transit worker was raised to a felony, but union representatives say that unless the MTA, New York City Police Department and district attorneys start working together, the assaults will continue.

“The system is failing New York City transit workers in general in terms of felony convictions,” said John Samuelson, president of the Transport Workers Union.

If Medina doesn't accept the deal, she could face up to seven years behind bars. She's due back in court January 19, when the judge said her conduct had better improve.

On Tuesday, when a court officer told Medina she couldn’t bring her baby niece into court, she told him, "Don't get an attitude with me."

The judge said she’ll go to jail if she shows any more disrespect for court staff regardless of how the assault case turns out.