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Santa Monica, CA - On September
7, 2023, Santa Monica police responded to the 2900 block of Pennsylvania Ave regarding
a sexual assault. A woman reported that a Lyft driver picked her up from a
restaurant in West Hollywood and sexually assaulted her during the ride home.
The victim, a Santa Monica
resident, fell asleep in the car and woke up to inappropriate touching. The
suspect then offered to walk her to her door, which she refused. Once home,
she realized several hours had passed since she was picked up.
Santa Monica detectives
investigated and identified the driver as Fernando Macias Morales, a
34-year-old Los Angeles resident. They arrested him on April 5, 2024, in the
San Fernando Valley.
The
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Morales with felony
counts of:
- Kidnapping
to commit a sexual act (California Penal Code 209(b)(1))
- Sexual
penetration of a person intoxicated or under sedation (California Penal
Code 289(e))
- Oral
copulation of a person intoxicated person or under sedation (California
Penal Code 287(i))
His bail is set at $500,000.
Anyone with additional
information is asked to contact Det. Stephanie Davis at 310-458-2201 x4400,
Sgt. Chad Goodwin at 310-458-8931, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day
at 310-458-8427.
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