Uber driver charged with raping Fullerton bar patron

Prosecutors are seeking possible victims connected to an Uber driver who has been charged with raping a female passenger after he picked her up from a bar in Fullerton.

Omar Mahmoud Mousa, 52, of Anaheim appeared in court Thursday, where his bail was set at $ 100,000, said Roxi Fyad, spokeswoman of the Orange County district attorney’s office. His arraignment was scheduled for April 8.

Mousa was taken into custody March 7 at Los Angeles International Airport on an arrest warrant, prosecutors said. He has been charged with one felony count of forcible rape and two other felony sex- related offenses, according to the district attorney’s office. If convicted, he faces up to 24 years in state prison.

Prosecutors allege the assault occurred the night of Oct. 24, 2015, when Mousa was working as a driver for the popular app- based ridesharing company. They believe there may be more victims.

Mousa picked up a 21year- old and her friend at a motel in Anaheim and drove them to a bar, prosecutors said. Mousa is believed to have given the women his business card, telling them to call him when they were ready to leave instead of using the Uber app on their phones.

Hours later, the victim and her friend called Mousa, who picked them up from the bar and drove them back to the motel in Anaheim, prosecutors said.

According to the district attorney’s office, he walked the woman and her friend to their motel room.

While the woman’s friend was passed out on the bed, Mousa placed the victim on the same bed and began sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated, prosecutors said.

She repeatedly told Mousa “no” and pushed him away, the district attorney’s office said. Mousa then drove away from the motel, prosecutors said.

The woman contacted the Anaheim Police Department later that day.

“Uber has a zero- tolerance policy for violent be- havior, and our thoughts are with the victim of this atrocious crime,” the company said in a statement. “We immediately blocked this individual’s access to the Uber platform upon learning of this incident and actively assisted law enforcement in their investigation.”

This week, Los Angeles officials sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission, urging regulators to impose f ingerprint scans and background checks on Uber, Lyft and limousine drivers in the city. Uber and Lyft do not use f ingerprint- based checks. The companies have said their background checks are comprehensive.

veronica. rocha @ latimes. com