A Los Angeles Lyft driver has been slapped with felony sexual assault charges after a female passenger accused him of attacking her during a ride from West Hollywood to Santa Monica, police revealed. Fernando Macias Morales, 34, was arrested on April 5 following allegations that he sexually assaulted the woman after she dozed off in his car on Sept. 7, 2023, as reported by KTLA.
The victim, who remains unidentified, reported to Santa Monica Police that she woke up to Morales’ "inappropriate touching" during the journey. Despite the assault, Morales brazenly offered to walk her to her door after the ride, an offer she refused, police said. After the woman got home, she realized that "several hours had passed since she was picked up," according to FOX 11.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Morales with kidnapping to commit a sexual act, sexual penetration of a person intoxicated or under sedation, and oral copulation of a person intoxicated or under sedation. He was initially held on $500,000 bail but has since been released after posting bond, as per FOX 11.
Authorities are calling on anyone with additional information to step forward and contact Detective Stephanie Davis or Sgt. Chad Goodwin, of Santa Monica Police.
