A 30-year-old Lyft driver is behind bars, accused of locking the doors of his car and attacking a 71-year-old woman after she refused his repeated requests for sex. Aman Kumar was arrested in Oakley last Monday and now faces charges of false imprisonment, sexual battery, and sexual conduct with intent to commit a sex crime, according to court records.
The alleged attack happened on June 26 in Emeryville, according to court records cited by The Mercury News. Police allege Kumar drove the woman to a supermarket and an ATM before heading toward her home, propositioning her repeatedly along the way and at one point asking her directly for sex. When she refused, police say Kumar locked the car doors, then reached under her shirt and groped her while she was inside the vehicle.
The woman fought back and managed to escape the car, then called 911, according to the newspaper’s account of court records. Police said the attack occurred inside Kumar’s vehicle in Emeryville. Lyft provided records that helped investigators identify Kumar as the woman’s driver, according to court records, though the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its media email address.
Charges Carry Elder-Victim Enhancement
Kumar was formally charged last Tuesday, according to court records, and the charges include enhancements alleging the victim was vulnerable. Specifically, the false imprisonment charge includes an allegation that Kumar victimized an elder woman. Under California Penal Code § 236, misdemeanor false imprisonment carries up to a year in county jail, but the charge becomes a felony punishable by up to three years in prison when force or threats are involved, with additional sentencing enhancements under Penal Code § 368 when the victim is 65 or older, according to the Shouse Law Group…