2 Falmouth Men Pleaded Not Guilty To Attempted Abduction
FALMOUTH (CBS) -- Two men who allegedly tried to lure a 13-year-old girl into their van using candy in Falmouth pleaded not guilty to multiple charges during their arraignment on Thursday.
Bruce and Dennis Bartlett, both of Falmouth, have been charged with attempting to commit a crime, attempting to entice a child, and conspiracy. They have been ordered held without bail.
Police say the men tried to entice the girl into their van while she was at a bus stop on Wednesday around 7:45 a.m. on Manauhant Road. They say the girl identified the men from previous mug shots at the police station.
She allegedly told police that it was Bruce Bartlett who said "You're a pretty girl. I have some candy. Now, get in the car."
The girl then ran away from the men and hide in a neighbor's house. She was able to get on the bus and go safely to school.
After this incident, another neighbor called police because she thinks the men also approached her niece on the street a couple of weeks ago.
Defense lawyer Suzanne Rapoza says this is a case of mistaken identity. She said the girl told police that the men had tattoos covering both of their arms, which neither of them do, and misidentified the color of their beards.
Additionally, neighbors say the white van belonging to these men that was later towed to the police station was parked at their home the entire day.
The men are scheduled for a dangerousness hearing on July 1.
