Rideshare driver charged with sexually abusing child in North Texas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A man was arrested after police said he sexually assaulted an unaccompanied child during a rideshare in the Dallas-Fort Worth area earlier this month.

Robert Johnson III, 31, was taken into custody on July 15 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child in connection with a July 9 incident.

Plano police said Johnson, a ride-share employee, responded to a pickup order in Frisco around 2 p.m. that afternoon and picked up an unaccompanied 12-year-old child.

Johnson allegedly drove off the road in the 4200 block of Legacy Drive and sexually assaulted the child. The next day, the child told his mother about the incident and a report was filed with the police.

Police said a judge on July 12 found there was sufficient probable cause to arrest Johnson and allowed authorities to issue an arrest warrant.

He was arrested by Plano police officers on July 17 and held for five days at the Collin County Jail in McKinney. Records show Johnson was released on July 22 and was given an attorney.

Plano Police are looking for additional victims to come forward and contact the SVU Tip Line at 972-941-2044 or [email protected].

Tips for precautions when using ridesharing services

Authorities advise ride-sharing users to remain vigilant and take preventive measures when using these services.

• Follow your intuition. If your driver makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, trust your intuition and call 911.
• Do not give your driver any personal information, such as the reason for your trip to your destination.
• Share your ride. Some ridesharing services allow you to share your ride status with a friend or family member so they can track your location in real time.
• Check your vehicle. Before getting in, make sure the driver, car and license plate match the information in the app.
• Have the driver confirm your name.
• Instead of saying your name, ask the driver to confirm your name before getting in the car.
• Be a backseat driver.
• Sitting in the back seat, especially if you’re driving alone, can help you get out safely and give you some privacy.