A North Texas Uber driver is facing serious allegations after being charged with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old passenger, a situation that brings to light the risks that can accompany ride-sharing services. According to the Plano Police Department, 31-year-old Robert Johnson III of Garland was arrested following the launch of an investigation by the department's Special Victims Unit. This response came after the child’s mother reported the incident to the authorities. Police say that Johnson picked up the 12-year-old unaccompanied minor in Frisco and then pulled off the road during the trip to commit the assault, as detailed by Fox San Antonio.
The harrowing event occurred on July 9, near 4200 Legacy Dr., Plano, as mentioned in CBS News Texas report. The child informed their mother the following day, which led to a police report being filed. Johnson was granted bail after posting a $200,000 bond and was released from Collin County Jail in McKinney on Monday. An Uber spokesperson specified, "This monstrous behavior has no place in our society or on the Uber platform. We take reports of this nature very seriously, and have permanently banned the driver. We have been in touch with the Plano Police Department regarding their investigation."
It has also been clarified by Uber that the trip was not requested through an Uber for teens account, which is the company's authorized method for riders aged 13-17 to use their platform with consent from a legal guardian.
Uber's Community Guidelines dictate that account holders should be 18 years of age and that minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult when using the service. In cities where Uber for teens is available, such as Dallas, the accounts provide guardians with notifications and real-time tracking whenever their teen requests a ride. In the wake of this incident, authorities urge the public to be vigilant and cautious when using any rideshare services, suggesting safety tips such as sharing trip details with friends or family members and verifying the car's details before boarding.
The Plano Police Department also issued safety reminders for those utilizing ride-sharing apps. These include trusting your intuition and calling 911 if feeling unsafe, avoiding the sharing of personal information with the driver, and confirming the match of the driver, car, and license plate with what's provided in the service's app before getting into the vehicle.
