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WEST JORDAN — A Lyft driver arrested last week and accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl he was supposed to be driving home is now facing formal criminal charges.
Jose Efrain Lozano Albornoz, 36, was arrested on Wednesday and charged Monday in 3rd District Court with more than a dozen crimes, including forcible sodomy, two counts of object rape, two counts of rape and aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felonies; six counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony; and lewdness and supplying alcohol to a minor, class B misdemeanors.
On April 28, police say a 17-year-old girl went to a friend's house to consume alcohol and smoke marijuana. Afterward, her friend ordered a Lyft to get her home.
Alboronz was her Lyft driver, police say. The girl's aunt later provided a screenshot of the girl's Lyft ride details, including a picture of Albornoz, as well a route map which showed the car taking 24 minutes to go 12 miles from the pickup location to the aunt's house, according to a police booking affidavit. However, the aunt "reviewed the cameras at her house and did not locate any video footage of this vehicle arriving, nor was (the teen) dropped off at the home."
Detectives say Alboronz drove the girl to South Jordan, where he forced her to get into the front passenger seat. He then groped and inappropriately touched the girl, who was intoxicated, the affidavit alleges. Police say Alboronz drove the girl "a substantial distance across multiple jurisdictions" and ended up at his Salt Lake apartment.
Once there, Alboronz provided the girl with more alcohol and sexually assaulted her multiple times, according to the affidavit.
When questioned by police, Alboronz admitted to many of the sexual encounters with the 17-year-old girl but claims it was consensual, the arrest report states.
Alboronz allegedly told detectives "he picked up a younger looking female and that he could tell that she was intoxicated" and then "began driving towards the intended destination, but then stopped" at a gas station, the charges state. Alboronz allegedly said he "could tell the female wanted a man" and "then ended the Lyft ride and proceeded to drive towards his apartment."
In 2019, an Utah woman joined 13 others who claimed they were sexually assaulted by drivers from the ride-sharing company. At the time, Lyft released a statement saying its commitment to safety was "stronger than ever" and that more resources were being dedicated to ensure "riders and drivers have the safest possible experience."
