Ride-Share Driver Held In Connection With Alleged Sexual Assault

CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that a Boston man, who worked as a driver for Uber, accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a vehicle he was driving, will continue to be held without bail following a hearing in Cambridge District Court this morning.

Alejandro Done, 46, of Boston, will remain in custody until his next scheduled court hearing on January 26, 2015. He previously entered pleas of not guilty on charges of rape, assault to rape, kidnapping, and assault and battery (two counts). Cambridge District Court Judge Antoinette Leoney presided at today’s hearing.

“This reported incident is a reminder that people need to be more alert than ever when taking any kind of public transportation,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Ride shares may be a new frontier in public transportation but the age old wisdom still applies: know who is taking you and where; and act on your instincts to get away if you have any feeling at all that a situation seems suspicious.”

Authorities allege that on December 6, at approximately 7:30 pm, the defendant pulled up to a residence on Tremont Street in Boston, where a young woman was waiting for a pre-arranged ride-sharing driver. The woman had been out with friends and decided to use a car service to get home. Once she got inside the car, she told the driver her destination and he instructed her that he would need cash payment. The defendant stopped while the woman went to an ATM to get cash and then returned to the car. The defendant then drove to a location that the passenger was not familiar with, pulled over in a secluded area and jumped in the backseat where she was sitting. He allegedly struck her with his hands, strangled her, locked the car doors so that she could not escape and covered her mouth so she could not scream. During an ensuing physical struggle, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted the woman.

Cambridge Police began an immediate investigation into this matter and during the investigation allegedly identified the defendant as the driver of the car through the ride-sharing service company records. The woman subsequently allegedly identified the defendant as the person who assaulted her.

Cambridge Police continue to investigate this matter. Uber has been cooperative and has provided assistance with this ongoing investigation.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Kate Kleimola. The Victim Witness Advocate is Helena Clarke.