Uber Driver Targeted Young Intoxicated Women, District Attorney Points to Inadequate Screening

January 24, 2018 – By: Christopher Weber, Associated Press

A California man who used his job as Uber driver to target intoxicated young women is facing life in prison after being charged this past Monday with raping, assaulting and robbing four victims.

Alfonso Alarcon-Nunez, 39, faces 10 criminal charges, including rape of an intoxicated victim and first-degree burglary. According to prosecutors, Alarcon-Nunez drove women to their homes, assaulted them, and stole property including cellphones, computers and jewelry, officials said. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said the alleged crimes demonstrated that the company should improve its driver screening process. Dow’s comments underscore widespread criticism that the screening and background check processes that Uber and Lyft use in vetting their respective drivers are inadequate.

The experienced and compassionate professionals at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, who recently brought suit against the rideshare company Lyft for inadequate screening of a Lyft driver with a criminal history who subsequently sexually assaulted a passenger, understand the evolving legal issues surrounding assaults, robberies, and accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers. Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC is committed to helping the victims in these cases and to changing public policies and regulations to improve the safety of rideshare services."