Dart Contract-Driver Accused of Sexually Assaulting Disabled Woman

GARLAND (WBAP/KLIF) – A contract driver for DART is behind bars, accused of sexually assaulting a disabled woman.

According to Garland Police, Officers arrested 44-year-old, Samson Assefa Lemma on Tuesday for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a disabled person. The female victim is a 23-year-old Garland resident, who has a diagnosed mental disability.

Investigators said oN Wednesday that Officers learned on June 6 that the victim was picked up from her home in Garland by Lemma to be transported to her place of employment, also in Garland. Evidence indicated that during the transport Lemma sexually assaulted the victim.

Detectives learned that Lemma was employed as a contract driver to transport persons with disabilities for DART. Based on the investigation detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lemma. He was arrested June 14 from his residence in Wylie.

Lemma is currently in the Garland Detention Center.

DART released the below statement:

“On Monday, June 6, DART Police, in partnership with the Garland Police Department, responded to a report from a paratransit passenger that she had been assaulted by an operator. The subcontracted operator was immediately pulled from service and their vehicle was impounded. After a thorough investigation, a warrant was issued for the operator, and they were arrested by Garland Police last night, June 14. The operator was a driver for Big Star Transit, a subcontract for MV Transportation, our contractor for paratransit services.”