A Lyft driver who pleaded no contest to felony sexual battery against a woman he was taking from San Francisco to Palo Alto in November was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years supervised probation Friday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Eddy Palacios, a 33-year-old South San Francisco resident, received eight days credit for time served and was told by Judge Jeffrey Finnegan he cannot work as a ride-hailing driver or take a job requiring him to enter residences. Palacios was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and cannot have contact with the victim for at least 10 years, according to prosecutors.
On Nov. 25, Palacios picked up a 29-year-old woman and her 31-year-old female friend who had used the ride-hailing service after a night out in San Francisco and they fell asleep as the vehicle drove south on Highway 101, according to prosecutors.
At about 3 a.m., the 29-year-old woke up to find Palacios had reached into the backseat while driving along the highway in Redwood City and digitally penetrated her. She screamed, awakening her friend, and they both turned on their cellphone recorder and yelled at him, according to prosecutors.
Palacios apologized and the two women called 911 after they got out of the vehicle in Palo Alto. California Highway Patrol officers responded and worked with Lyft to identify the vehicle and driver, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the increasing number of crimes stemming from ride-hailing rides are a reminder of the precautions users should take.
“There will always be predators lurking and we have to be ready for them,” he said. “That’s just a reminder to people that you do have to keep your guard up.”
Palacios’ attorney Paula Spano said her client said he is very sorry.
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