Uber Driver Charged with Sexual Assault on Laguna Beach Passenger

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —An Uber driver was charged with raping an unconscious 17-year-old girl on Saturday.

At 2:30 a.m. on Sat. Nov. 5, Laguna Beach Police Officers responded to the scene. The drier, a 23-year-old Huntington Beach resident and Uber Driver Samer Mahran was identified as the suspect. drove the unnamed victim from her location near a bar in Huntington Beach.

"The 'Jane Doe' was near a bar in Huntington Beach when her family member ordered an Uber ride to drive the victim to her home in Laguna Beach," Orange County District Attoreny's Office Public Affairs Unit, Chief of Staff Susan Kang Shroeder said.

The driver picked "Jane Doe" up but is accused of not dropping her off at the requested destination. When the family member became concerned, Uber tracking was used to locate the defendant and the victim. The car was parked near the home, and upon arrival, the driver was seen sexually assaulting the victim while she was unconscious due to intoxication.

"The defendant is accused of climbing into the driver's seat of his car nad fleeing the scene as the relative helped Jane Doe from the car," Kang Schroeder said.

According to the District Attorney's office, the driver knew the girl was only 17-years-old at the time of the sexual assault and rape.

911 was called, and Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Tim Kleiser stated that "Laguna Beach Detectives worked in collaboration with Uber liaisons, who assisted in the investigation," to identify Mahran.

According to Kleiser, Mahran was arrested at his apartment in Huntington Beach later that day.

"Mahran was booked at the Orange County Jail and his bail was set at $100,000," Kleister said. He was released on bond, and will be arraigned on Dec. 2. Mahran faces 28 years in state prison.

This investigation is ongoing and no further details regarding the incident can be released at this time.

If you have information about this suspect or the case, please contact Sgt. Kleiser at (949) 464- 6671 or tkleiser@lagunabeachcity.net. Deputy District Attorney Heidi Garrel of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting the case.

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