Bus Driver Convicted of Raping Disabled Passenger in Winters

A Yolo Employment Services bus driver who transported mentally disabled clients for eight years has been convicted of parking his bus and raping a passenger.

Thomas Vukodinovich, a 74-year-old Woodland resident, on Aug. 8 was convicted of a count of rape, a count of attempted rape, five counts of oral copulation and four counts of digital penetration, Yolo County officials say.

"In June 2012, two concerned Winters citizens noticed a [Yolo Employment Services] bus frequently parked on Main Street with the victim and the bus driver having some unusual physical contact," a Yolo County press release states. "They told the victim’s family and the Winters Police Department opened a criminal investigation. During an interview by trained professionals at the Yolo County Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC), the victim revealed she had numerous sexual activities with Vukodinovich on the [Yolo Employment Services] bus. Vukodinovich later confessed that he had engaged in regular and repeated sexual acts with the victim on the YES bus since 2009."

Vukodinovich faces up to 27 years in prison.

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The full press release follows:

YES Bus Driver Convicted of Sex Crimes Against A Dependent Adult

(Woodland, CA) Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that on August 8, 2013, a Yolo County jury convicted 74-year-old Woodland man Thomas Vukodinovich of one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, five counts of oral copulation and four counts of digital penetration. The adult victim was legally unable to give consent to the sexual acts due to her mental disability. Vukodinovich had been employed by Yolo Employment Services (YES) as a bus driver since 2005 and his primary responsibility was to provide transportation to mentally disabled clients, including the victim who is moderately mentally disabled. 

In June 2012, two concerned Winter’s citizens noticed a YES bus frequently parked on Main Street with the victim and the bus driver having some unusual physical contact. They told the victim’s family and the Winter’s Police Department opened a criminal investigation. During an interview by trained professionals at the Yolo County Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC), the victim revealed she had numerous sexual activities with Vukodinovich on the YES bus. Vukodinovich later confessed that he had engaged in regular and repeated sexual acts with the victim on the YES bus since 2009. 

District Attorney Jeff Reisig praised the efforts of the law enforcement team. “This prosecution would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Winter’s Police Department, MDIC, Department of Justice and Victim Services Division, as well as the support and cooperation of the victim and her family,” said Reisig. “These crimes would not have been discovered without the two good samaritan citizens from Winters who had the presence of mind and good sense to observe and then report the activity to the police.” 

Vukodinovich will be sentenced at a future date in Department 3 by the Honorable Judge Stephen L. Mock. He faces up to 27 years in state prison. 

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