WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Morrisville Man Pleads Not Guilty to Stealing Tour Bus
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Hyde Park, Vermont - November 17, 2009
The journey Jacob Rehm called the "Fabulous Bus Ride" ended Tuesday -- in court. The 38-year-old Morrisville resident was charged with trespassing, theft, and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent. His public defender entered a plea of not guilty on all three counts on his behalf.
Rehm is accused of stealing a bus from Lamoille Valley Transportation two weeks ago. He does not deny he made the trip; he even posted video of himself driving it on YouTube.
"It just sort of developed," he said. "I didn't plan it, I didn't plan to make the YouTube video until I began thinking, 'Oh, there's a song that goes with this.'"
Rehm and a friend headed for Pennsylvania but turned around after reaching Connecticut, worried they'd run out of gas and be unable to make it back to Vermont. The bus company reported it stolen, and police spotted it in St. Johnsbury the next day. Rehm said he didn't steal the bus, just borrowed it.
"It was spontaneous, completely spontaneous," he said. "My friend said, 'Well, did you call the bus to ask?' And I said, 'In a manner.' I was inspired. I felt inspired. And I want to say I'm a professional bus driver, I know what I'm doing."
"The way I was brought up, when you take something without asking, it's stealing," said Joel Prive, general manager of Lamoille Valley Transportation. He said Rehm had worked for the bus company for about three weeks back in 2006.
"We first suspected it was an employee or someone who knew motor coaches because they're a little odd in how they operate," he said. "The person also put the gate back up when they left."
Prive said when Rehm was cited for taking the bus, he showed no remorse or knowledge he put the company at risk legally and financially.
"The whole picture could have looked pretty grim," he said. "I expect we were pretty exposed at that point, to lose a half-million dollar vehicle financially could have great impact on a company... Any lawsuit would certainly come to us."
Prive said Rehm didn't take responsibility for his actions on the bus or in court with his plea of not guilty.
"I find it ridiculous that our court system even allows a plea like that when you post on the internet yourself with that vehicle in Connecticut," he said. "He was in the bus, it was removed from the yard, he didn't have permission, it's just ridiculous. He's guilty."
The bus company is upgrading security on its property, adding gates, fencing and lights to reduce the risk of this happening again.
The court ordered Jacob Rehm to undergo a competency hearing.
"I'm completely open to any and all inquiries," Rehm said.
Kate Duffy - WCAX News
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