A 44-year-old man who posed as a rideshare driver has been charged with raping seven women in a span of 15 months, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Nicolas Morales (dob 1/16/74) of Santa Clarita has been charged with 27 felony counts in case GA102960: nine counts of forcible oral copulation, six counts of rape, five counts sodomy by use of force, four counts of sexual penetration by foreign object, and one count each of assault with intent to commit a felony, attempted sodomy by use of force and attempted kidnapping to commit another crime. The felony complaint also includes multiple victims and knife allegations.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 5 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Branch. Prosecutors are asking that bail be set at $10.3 million.

Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran of the Victim Impact Program is assigned to the case.

Prosecutors said from October 2016 to January 2018, Morales is accused of raping and sexually assaulting seven separate women while posing as a rideshare driver in areas throughout Los Angeles County, including Alhmbra, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles.

If convicted as charged, Morales faces a maximum possible sentence of 300 years to life in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration.

The case is being investigated by the Alhambra and Los Angeles police departments and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case GA102960 /February 27, 2018