The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested a Lyft driver for allegedly sexually assaulting a customer during her ride home. SMPD officers responded to the 2900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in reference to a sexual assault on September 7, 2023. Officers were informed that a woman was picked up by a Lyft driver from a restaurant in West Hollywood. It is alleged that the driver sexually assaulted her during the ride home.
The Santa Monica victim reported that she fell asleep in the vehicle and woke up to inappropriate touching. The suspect allegedly offered to walk her home but she refused. At home, the victim realized several hours had passed since she was picked up. Detectives say they identified the suspect as 34-year-old Fernando Macias Morales of Los Angeles.
Morales was arrested on April 5 and charged with Kidnapping to Commit a Sexual Act, Sexual Penetration of a Person Intoxicated or Under Sedation, and Oral Copulation of a Person Intoxicated or under Sedation.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.