Forty year old taxi driver, Reupena Vaega, is facing two counts of first degree sexual abuse for allegedly assaulting a 16 year old girl.
According to the government, in March of this year, the defendant saw the girl walking by herself in Ottoville and offered her a ride home.
He then arranged to see the girl a few days later when the girl’s parents were at a church meeting.
Court filings say the defendant picked up the girl and drove to a place where they spent two hours taking inside his vehicle.
It’s alleged that Vaega asked the girl to have a secret relationship with him and he would provide her money but she would have to agree to do anything he asked.
He assured the victim he would never do anything bad to her.
According to the girl, during one conversation with Vaega in his taxi he touched her chest in a sexual manner.
He had also bought her a phone so they could communicate.
Two weeks ago the girl’s father saw Vaega’s vehicle parked close to their home. Her dad had been told by a friend that people were talking about the defendant picking up young girls and taking them to various places.
The father then approached the defendant to talk to him.
While the two were talking, the girl’s mother approached and told her husband she found $60 in their daughter’s pockets and the girl said it was from the taxi driver who dropped her off.
Police were informed and the defendant and victim were questioned.
The girl claimed that Vaega sexually abused her on two separate occasion by touching her chest and thighs in a sexual manner.
She also told police he gave her $70 and $60 when they met.
