North Texas rideshare driver arrested for sexually abusing 12-year-old passenger

NORTH TEXAS — Plano police have arrested an Uber driver for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Plano police arrested Robert Johnson III, 31, of Garland following an investigation by the agency’s Special Victims Unit.

According to investigators, Johnson picked up a 12-year-old unaccompanied minor in Frisco on Tuesday, July 9. Police say Johnson then drove off the road in the 4200 block of Legacy Drive and sexually assaulted the child. After the child told his mother about the incident the next day, a police report was filed.

On Friday, July 12, the Honorable Judge McGraw issued an arrest warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

The Plano Police Department’s Intelligence Unit arrested Johnson on Monday, July 15. He is currently being held at the Collin County Jail in McKinney.

In an email to CBS News Texas, Plano police said they are not releasing the child’s gender.

Investigators are urging any other victims to contact the Plano Police Department’s Special Victims Unit hotline at (972) 941-2044 or [email protected].

CBS News Texas asked Uber about the incident. A company spokesperson responded: “This monstrous behavior has no place in our society or on the Uber platform. We take reports of this nature very seriously and have permanently banned the driver. We are in contact with the Plano Police Department regarding their investigation.”

Uber says the ride was not ordered through a teenager’s account and that the incident remains under investigation.

According to Uber’s community guidelines, account holders must be at least 18 years old and minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. “Accounts used to transport unaccompanied minors may be disabled,” the help page states.

However, selected cities in the US have access to “Uber for teenagers“Accounts. Youth accounts are described as “the only authorized way for youth ages 13 to 17 to use the Uber platform with the consent of their parent or guardian.”

The program touts that guardians who add an account for their teen will receive a notification each time their teen requests a ride, as well as real-time alerts and live ride tracking to follow the ride in the app.

Dallas is one of 21 cities in Texas where teenagers can use Uber.

Plano Police have issued a reminder that people need to remain vigilant and take precautions when using ride-sharing services.

The department gives drivers the following tips:

• If you feel uncomfortable with your driver or have a feeling of unsafety, 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 trip with a friend or family member so they can track your location in real time.
• Before getting in, make sure the driver, car and license plate match the information in the app.
• Instead of saying your name, ask the driver to confirm your name before getting in the car.
• Especially if you are driving alone, sitting in the back seat can help you get out safely and give you some privacy.