Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, April 28, 2024 77° Today's Paper


Top News

After Uber, Lyft driver charged with sex assault, more victims come forward

1/1
Swipe or click to see more

ESCONDIDO POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA AP

This Sept. 16 photo provided by the Escondido Police Department shows San Marcos resident Jeremy Vague. Police arrested Vague on suspicion of sexually assaulting several women while working as a driver for Uber and Lyft in Escondido, Calif.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. » Police today were investigating reports that a former Uber and Lyft driver charged with assaulting women on the job in California also had inappropriate contact with a 14-year-old girl and another ridesharing customer.

The teen’s parent told police that Jeremy Vague had the contact with the girl while she was on a sports team that he coached, said Lt. Justin Murphy of the Escondido Police Department, which is leading the investigation. He said he had no other details because police had yet to meet with the family.

In a separate incident, another woman told authorities she was victimized when Vague was her Lyft driver in Encinitas, north of San Diego. Murphy said investigators would also be meeting with her and a female witness.

Vague, a former college basketball player who is 7 feet tall and weighs 270 pounds, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to sexual assault charges involving three other women, two of whom had requested rides through Uber and Lyft.

Efforts to determine if Vague has a lawyer were not immediately successful.

The Associated Press does not generally identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes.

Vague was arrested Friday at his home after an 18-year-old college student said earlier that day that she was assaulted by her Uber driver in San Marcos, north of San Diego.

During the investigation, police discovered more possible victims, including two 19-year-old women in Escondido.

The call from the parent and Lyft customer came after police held a news conference Wednesday, urging anyone who had been victimized to come forward.

Both ridesharing companies are cooperating with authorities.

Vague, who is married, worked for Lyft for nine months and Uber for three months, Murphy said. As an Uber driver he had given 284 rides, according to information Uber provided at the request of police.

Court records show Vague pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of vehicle burglary in Utah stemming from a July 2002 incident involving the theft of golf clubs.

2 responses to “After Uber, Lyft driver charged with sex assault, more victims come forward”

  1. marcus says:

    Wouldn’t use either of these services, ever! There is something to be said about a “brick and mortar” taxi company where drivers are monitored and required to appear. “virtual” base yards do not psychologically deter creeps from applying for jobs that deal with the public. Simply said; there is just not enough oversight and these uber/lift drivers are like cowboys in the wild wild west.

  2. Commando1 says:

    States should shut this system down….

Leave a Reply