Former Denver Rideshare Driver Sentenced to 290 Years for Assaulting Dozen Women

John Pastor-Mendoza, a former rideshare driver in Denver, has been sentenced to 290 years to life in prison after being convicted of 30 criminal counts, including kidnapping and sexually assaulting a dozen women between 2018 and 2022. Pastor-Mendoza used his position to pose as the legitimate rideshare driver, targeting intoxicated women leaving bars, whom he then assaulted either in his car or at another location. Despite his claims of innocence, DNA evidence linked him to the crimes. Denver District Attorney John Walsh commended the victims’ courage in testifying, which contributed to the severe sentence handed down by Judge Karen Brody. This case is part of a broader issue of rideshare-related sexual assaults in Colorado. Lyft has confirmed Pastor-Mendoza worked for them but was removed following his arrest.