Friday, March 02, 2007

Metro knew driver was a felon, say documents

STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County: "When a wheelchair-bound woman was sexually assaulted by a Metro Call-A-Ride van driver in 2005, transit officials said the company they hired for background checks missed his criminal conviction and status as a registered sex offender.

But personnel documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch show Metro knew that William T. Hamilton spent 19 months in prison for a Class D felony. He even admitted on the application that he'd been convicted of a crime, writing 'to Be Discussed at interview.'

Reached Tuesday, Hamilton said he did tell the Metro interviewer in 2001 about two convictions for sex crimes.

Metro lawyers were expected to argue in St. Louis Circuit Court today for dismissal of a suit by the rape victim, claiming the agency has immunity. "

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