SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Uber driver was charged yesterday with raping an unconscious minor teenage girl in Laguna Beach. Samer Alaaeldin Mahran, 23, Huntington Beach, was charged on Nov. 8, 2016, with one felony count of rape by use of drugs, one felony count of forcible oral copulation upon a minor over 14 years of age, one felony count of sexual penetration of a child over age 14 by foreign object and force, and one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 28 years in state prison. The defendant was released from custody today on $100,000 bond and is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Dec. 2, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, 17-year-old Jane Doe was near a bar in Huntington Beach when her family member ordered an Uber ride to drive the victim to her home in Laguna Beach. Uber driver Mahran is accused of picking Jane Doe up and not dropping her off at the requested destination. After several minutes, the family member grew concerned when she did not arrive home in the expected timeframe.

Using the Uber application's tracking feature, another relative located the defendant and the victim in the back seat of Mahran's car, which was parked near Jane Doe's home. Mahran is accused of knowing the victim was 17 years old and sexually assaulting her by raping, digitally penetrating, and orally copulating her without consent while she was unconscious due to intoxication. The defendant is accused of climbing into the driver's seat of his car and fleeing the scene as the relative helped Jane Doe out of his car.

The victim's family member called 911, and the Laguna Beach Police Department identified Mahran using his description, license plate number, and driver profile on the Uber application. He was arrested at his apartment in Huntington Beach later that day.

Deputy District Attorney Heidi Garrel of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16HF1582 / November 9, 2016