Uber driver arrested after child sexually assaulted during ride, Plano police say

A Garland man is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl during an Uber ride, police said.

Robert Johnson III, 31, faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to a news release from the Plano Police Department.

On July 9, Johnson responded to a ride request about 2 p.m. in Frisco and picked up the unaccompanied girl, police said. Johnson then pulled off the road in the 4200 block of Legacy Drive, where police say he sexually assaulted the preteen.

Johnson picked her up from a medical facility through Uber Health, the rideshare company’s nonemergency medical transportation platform, according to a Plano police Facebook post. The child used the service to get to therapy, according to a Plano police arrest-warrant affidavit .

The girl’s mom noticed strange behavior right away after the Uber ride, according to the affidavit. The mom told police her daughter asked if the Uber was a regular one or meant just for kids and noted that the driver had bought snacks, which seemed unusual. The girl appeared unenthusiastic and withdrawn and went to bed early, according to the affidavit.

The next day, the girl told her therapist about the assault during the Uber ride, according to the affidavit. A police report was filed that day.

The girl told officers that Johnson started the ride by asking about the music and changing the song, according to the affidavit. He then allegedly asked inappropriate questions and assaulted the child, pulling the car off the intended route into a parking lot. The ride was supposed to take around 26 minutes but took 37, according to the affidavit.

The therapist told police that the girl was scared and felt ashamed. She told the therapist it was her mistake for getting in the front seat at Johnson’s insistence, and she feared for other girls who may have Johnson as an Uber driver, according to the affidavit.

On July 15, Johnson was taken into custody, according to the department’s release. He was booked into the Collin County jail in McKinney and was released Monday on a $200,000 bond, according to jail records.

The department recommended rideshare riders take measures to ensure their safety: call 911 if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe; confirm the driver’s identity; ask the driver to confirm your name; avoid sharing personal details with your driver; share your trip status with a friend or family member; and sit in the back seat of the car.

The department recommended parents use a live video app with teens for the duration of their trip if their children are riding alone.

Lyft does not allow anyone younger than 18 to use its services without an adult. Uber requires unaccompanied riders aged 13-17 to have a teen account, which requires consent from legal guardians and has features such as safety education, live updates and audio recording during a trip.

Plano police encourage any victim to contact the SVU tip line at 972-941-2044 or policetips@plano.gov. The department partnered with the Frisco Police Department in the case.