20-year-old charged after Albion girl is located unharmed
ALBION – Albion police have charged a 20-year-old man formerly from Albion with endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly picked up a 12-year-old girl after school on Wednesday and took her to Buffalo overnight.
Jonathan Banks may face additional charges and an investigation is continuing, said Tom O’Hearn, a lieutenant with the Albion police. Banks was put in jail in lieu of $2,500 bail this afternoon.
He allegedly picked up Marina Zeppetella after middle school at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday. Video from the school showed her getting into a car. O’Hearn said police used On-Star and cellular phone tracking to help locate the car driven by Banks.
He dropped Marina off at a truck stop on Route 77, and state police picked her up around noon today.
Marina allegedly arranged for the ride after school by Banks, police said. Albion police issued a missing person alert for the girl at about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The alert was broadcast throughout Western New York. A motorist on the Thruway called the 911 to report seeing Marina near Route 77.
Marina wasn’t hurt and was dropped off at the truck stop at her request, O’Hearn said.
