Guatemalan Dollar Van Driver Granted Bail in Teen Assault Case

A dramatic scene unfolded in court today; a Guatemalan dollar van driver accused of sexually assaulting a fifteen-year-old girl broke down in tears when he learned he was getting bail. Police prosecutors had strongly objected, calling him a flight risk. But forty-three-year-old Wenseslao Garrido-Veilz insisted he wouldn’t run, saying he has a family here and no passport. The allegations are serious: investigators say on Saturday, the teen boarded his van on Cemetery Road. After dropping off other passengers, he allegedly drove her to a feeder road near Cisco on the George Price Highway and touched her inappropriately. A medical exam confirmed harm. In court, Garrido-Veilz pleaded not guilty, first in Spanish, then surprisingly in English, saying, “Thank you God…I neva touch dah young lady.” He was granted bail of five thousand dollars with strict conditions: no contact with the victim, no leaving the country, and weekly check-ins with police. He’s due back in court January 13^th, 2025.