Former S.A. Uber driver charged in sexual assault of drunken female passenger

Gabriel Vazquez, 40, was arrested Jan. 15, 2017, on a second-degree...

SAN ANTONIO — A former Uber driver was arrested Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a drunken female passenger he drove home in October, according to court documents.

Gabriel Vazquez, 40, faces a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond at the Bexar County jail.

RELATED: Report: Fired BCSO deputy pushed girlfriend, cut her with his fingernails

On Oct. 12, the 22-year-old woman requested a ride using the Uber app after having drinks at a local bar. The woman later called police and told them she was sexually assaulted, according to an arrest affidavit.

She said she was intoxicated to the point that she needed help walking, and said an unknown man followed her inside her residence. The woman said the man, later identified as Vazquez, walked her to her bedroom and started undressing her, but left her underwear on. She told him “No” several times but the man continued and allegedly sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said.

The victim went to an area hospital for a rape kit exam.

RELATED: Affidavit: Driver fled accident leaving teenage boy dead

Investigators subpoenaed Uber’s transportation records and determined that Vazquez was a possible suspect. The victim later identified Vazquez from a photo lineup as the suspect who allegedly raped her, according to the affidavit.

Investigators learned the victim was highly intoxicated at the bar she was at, having passed out in the bathroom. She was escorted out of the bar onto the patio and employees at the bar helped her setup a ride home, the affidavit said.

Vazquez, who primarily speaks Spanish, initially denied having sex with the woman, but later confessed to sexually assaulting her, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: BCSO: Young man found dead near elementary school on far Northwest Side

An Uber spokeswoman said Vazquez was on the Uber app as a driver for a short time and had never received complaints similar to the alleged incident that occurred in October.

“What’s been described is greatly concerning and has no place anywhere,” Uber said in a statement. “As soon as the rider reported this to us in October, we immediately removed this driver’s access to the app. We assisted the San Antonio Police Department and provided any information to them that would be useful for their investigation. We appreciate all of their diligent work on this case.”

If convicted, Vazquez faces up to 20 years in prison.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite