Trial Set for Uber Driver Accused of Raping East County Passenger Due in Court [UPDATED]

EL CAJON, CA — A Feb. 21 trial date was set Thursday for a former Uber driver accused of raping a passenger and sexually assaulting eight other victims over the past several years.

John David Sanchez, 52, faces nearly 56 years in state prison if convicted of more than 30 charges, including rape and sodomy of an unconscious person. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday at his Superior Court arraignment.

Sanchez was initially arrested about a month after the alleged Feb. 26 rape of one of his Uber passengers.

The defendant posted bail and was fired by Uber. Investigators subsequently found a number of other women who had allegedly been assaulted by Sanchez in 2007, 2011 and 2013, but had not reported the attacks.

Most of the alleged victims who came forward were said to have been unconscious from drugs or alcohol when the attacks occurred, according to El Cajon police.

Sanchez is also accused of committing sex acts on a 13-year-old girl and involving her in a sex act on a disabled woman at a medical facility in 2013.

A readiness conference is set for Dec. 5.

— City News Service

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