John Pastor Mendoza
The Denver Post reports a Lyft Driver is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting, or attempting to sexually assault, 10 women he picked up for rides between 2018 and 2022. John Pastor-Medonza is charged with 41 felony counts, including a robbery charge, 10 counts of kidnapping, 12 counts of sexual assault, and 18 counts of attempted sexual assault. Denver police believe there may be additional victims who have yet to be identified.
According to authorities, Pastor-Mendoza targeted intoxicated women from nightclubs and bars in Denver who sought Lyft rides. Victims reported blacking out and waking in either his car or at his home to realize they had been sexually assaulted. Pastor-Mendoza was linked to the assaults by investigators through DNA and witnesses.
Lyft has confirmed that Pastor-Mendoza was a driver on their platform and that they are cooperating with law enforcement.
A pattern emerged over two years and multiple victims
When the assaults began, multiple women described a similar pattern of ordering a rideshare, blacking out, and waking up in a stranger’s home with some of their belongings missing. Their attacker was described as a Hispanic man in his late 30s or early 40s.
As the numbers of reports grew, detectives recognized a pattern and asked employees at Tracks Nightclub to be on the lookout for rideshare drivers who matched the women’s descriptions. A photo of Pastor-Mendoza inside the club and a photo of his driver’s license and vehicle was provided to police by a tipster.
When investigators presented a photo lineup to a victim, she picked Pastor-Mendoza as the man who assaulted her. 18 cellphones, some of which belong to identified victims, turned up during a search of his home. They also found a bank card that belonged to a woman who reported her Uber driver attempted to sexually assault her in May 2022.
Assaulted by John Pastor-Mendonza?
Estey & Bomberger can help
If you, a loved one, or a friend are a victim of Denver area Lyft driver John Pastor-Mendoza, our passionate team of trauma-informed attorneys can help you achieve the justice you deserve.
Our law firm strives to provides victims of sexual assault more than world-class legal counsel. The team at Estey & Bomberger includes certified sexual assault victim advocates to assist clients at every step of the way. We have your back, and will provide you with a wealth of resources so that you can work towards a brighter future.
To ensure everyone can retain our services, regardless of their budget, we offer free consultations. This allows you to speak with one of our compassionate lawyers who will listen to you and answer any questions you may have. This allows you to make an informed decision regarding how to proceed with your case.
We understand many clients wish to keep their identities confidential. Our team can make sure you remain anonymous from the time you schedule a free consultation, through to the conclusion of your case.
Estey & Bomberger has earned a national reputation for achieving record setting results for our clients. Our rideshare sexual assault lawyers have a perfect record holding companies like Lyft and Uber accountable for the actions of their predatory drivers. So that you can get the help you need without having to worry about how to pay for an attorney, we never charge a fee unless we win.
We work tirelessly to achieve justice on behalf of those who have had their lives changed forever by sexual predators. To learn more, or to schedule a confidential and free consultation, contact us today.