There may be an issue of competency for a 70-year-old driving instructor who is accused of inappropriately touching three female students while allegedly trying to teach them the rules of the road.
During a court hearing earlier this month, a judge scheduled a March 30 trial for Jose Peregil, of 76 West Sixth St., Lowell, who is accused of touching three teenage girls in a sexual manner during separate driving lessons in 2013.
But defense attorney Michael Najjar notes in court documents that while Peregil denies the allegations, a psychiatric evaluation of Peregil performed in September "casts into question" Peregil's ability to comprehend or control his actions.
Peregil has pleaded not guilty to charges of accosting and annoying a person of the opposite sex; assault and battery (six counts); and criminal harassment (two counts). Peregil is free on personal recognizance on the conditions that he not teach at the driving school and have no contact with ay children under 16. The Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended Peregil's driving instructor's license. Peregil and his wife have owned and operated Safety First Driving school for 15 years.
Lowell police allege that in 2013, three Lowell girls - two who were age 18 and a 16-year-old - told police that while taking driving lessons with Peregil he repeatedly talked about sex, asked them intimidate questions about their sex lives, and touched them on the thigh, arms and other parts of the body.
The youngest girl told police that Peregil allegedly kissed her hand and asking her if he could kiss her down there.
At the end of the lesson, Peregil allegedly told the girl to call him to set up a plan to make a plan to see each other. As she left the car, Peregil allegedly told her, "I love you" as the girl ran home.
Peregil is adamantly denies the allegations, Najjar said.
Follow Lisa Redmond on Tout and Twitter@lredmond13_lisa.
During a court hearing earlier this month, a judge scheduled a March 30 trial for Jose Peregil, of 76 West Sixth St., Lowell, who is accused of touching three teenage girls in a sexual manner during separate driving lessons in 2013.
But defense attorney Michael Najjar notes in court documents that while Peregil denies the allegations, a psychiatric evaluation of Peregil performed in September "casts into question" Peregil's ability to comprehend or control his actions.
Peregil has pleaded not guilty to charges of accosting and annoying a person of the opposite sex; assault and battery (six counts); and criminal harassment (two counts). Peregil is free on personal recognizance on the conditions that he not teach at the driving school and have no contact with ay children under 16. The Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended Peregil's driving instructor's license. Peregil and his wife have owned and operated Safety First Driving school for 15 years.
Lowell police allege that in 2013, three Lowell girls - two who were age 18 and a 16-year-old - told police that while taking driving lessons with Peregil he repeatedly talked about sex, asked them intimidate questions about their sex lives, and touched them on the thigh, arms and other parts of the body.
The youngest girl told police that Peregil allegedly kissed her hand and asking her if he could kiss her down there.
At the end of the lesson, Peregil allegedly told the girl to call him to set up a plan to make a plan to see each other. As she left the car, Peregil allegedly told her, "I love you" as the girl ran home.
Peregil is adamantly denies the allegations, Najjar said.
Follow Lisa Redmond on Tout and Twitter@lredmond13_lisa.
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