John Pastor-Mendoza, the man convicted of a series of heinous acts against women utilizing a ride-sharing service, has been sentenced to an unprecedented 290 years to life in prison. The sentence, handed down by Judge Karen Brody, comes after Pastor-Mendoza was found guilty of numerous charges, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault. According to Denver Police Department, between 2018 and 2022, Pastor-Mendoza deceptively posed as a ride-sharing driver to prey upon 12 women, marking a terrifying misuse of technology intended to make transportation easier and safer.
The District Attorney for Denver, John Walsh, spoke on the ruling, acknowledging the severity of the crimes that wreaked havoc over four years. As obtained by the Denver Police Department, Walsh stated, "Pastor-Mendoza victimized 12 women in a calculated, cruel and contemptible series of crimes over four years," further applauding Judge Brody's decision as "entirely appropriate." The condemnation of Pastor-Mendoza runs deep, as he not only assaulted his victims in his vehicle but also took them to another location where the horrors continued. A single count of robbery was also among his convictions.
The DA's statement also paid tribute to the bravery of the survivors, whose testimony was pivotal in ensuring that Pastor-Mendoza's spree of terror would come to an end. The diligence and hard work of the prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and paralegals in the Denver DA's office, as well as the detectives and digital evidence analysts with the Denver Police Department were also hailed for their significant contributions to the case.
