Deputy District Attorney Stefanie DeCillis commended the victim for "testifying at trial about such a traumatic event"
getty
NEED TO KNOW
- An Uber driver, Safiullah Miakhil, has been convicted of sexually abusing one of his female passengers
- The incident happened in November 2023, hours after Miakhil picked up the victim, a college student, from a Halloween party
- He could face up to one year in county jail
A California Uber driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting his passenger.
On Friday, Feb. 6, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that 46-year-old Safiullah Miakhil of Carmichael was convicted of two counts of sexual battery related to a Nov. 1, 2023, incident.
Judge Catherine R. Hohenwarter presided over the case.
The victim, whose name and age were not disclosed, was a student at the University of California, Davis, at the time, authorities said.
getty
PEOPLE reached out to Uber for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Just after midnight on Halloween 2023, Miakhil picked the woman up from a Halloween party in Davis and brought her to her home. As the two arrived, he exited the vehicle and got into the back seat with her.
He then groped, kissed and fondled the victim against her will before she was able to break free and run away.
The incident was immediately reported to police.
“The young woman who was victimized in this case demonstrated immeasurable courage and tenacity, from the time of the assault in 2023, while the case took its course through the criminal court system, and especially in testifying at trial about such a traumatic event,” Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Stefanie DeCillis said.
DeCillis also thanked the jury for making the correct choice in a case of this magnitude.
“This outcome signals that sexual assault cases, especially against those in vulnerable positions, will be treated with the utmost seriousness in Yolo County,” she said.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig added, “The jury’s conviction is an affirmation to the courageous young victim in this case and a warning to the depraved who dare to think that they will get away with such perverse misconduct.”
“We urge all riders to use caution when utilizing ride-sharing services and report any and all misconduct by drivers to authorities,” he said.
Miakhil faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail. It is not immediately known if he has obtained an attorney.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Read the full article here
