COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A former Uber driver charged with sexually assaulting a passenger in 2014 had a history of "sexually inappropriate and opportunistic" behavior, prosecutors allege.
In a motion filed last month, prosecutors claim Adnan Nafasat, now 48, asked two male passengers a series of sexual questions during rides in February and July of 2014.
Both men complained to Uber, prosecutors said, but Nafasat was still working for the company on July 31, 2014 — the day he is accused of choking and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old passenger.
RELATED: Uber Driver Choked and Sexually Assaulted Young Man, Prosecutors Say
Uber declined to comment on the complaints against Nafasat. A spokeswoman said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
In a motion filed by Assistant State's Attorney Thomas Prisco, prosecutors allege Nafasat made "sexually inappropriate and opportunistic" comments to two 20-something male passengers in 2014. Both men were described as "boyish, young-looking males."
In the first instance, prosecutors said, Nafasat picked up a passenger in the 800 block of West Cornelia Avenue about 4 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2014.
When Nafasat began asking the man about his preferred sexual positions, prosecutors said, the passenger asked to be let out of the car. Nafasat complied, and the passenger filed a complaint with Uber.
On July 11, 2014, Nafasat picked up a man in the 1900 block of North Drake Avenue, according to Prisco. Nafasat is accused of asking the passenger about his sexual orientation and what the man liked sexually. As soon as the passenger was dropped off in Streeterville, prosecutors said, he filed a complaint with Uber.
The complaints were first reported by the Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown blog.
Less than three weeks later, on July 31, 2014, Nafasat is accused of choking and raping a man who requested a ride about 1 a.m. in the 700 block of West Cornelia Avenue.
Nafasat told the man to sit in the front seat because the minivan's backseats were dirty and broken, prosecutors said. Nafasat then headed south to a neighborhood the victim didn't recognize.
As he drove, Nafasat repeatedly groped the man, according to prosecutors. Each time the car stopped in traffic, Nafasat choked the man so that he couldn't escape, he told police. During a January 2015 bond hearing, prosecutors pointed out that Nafasat is 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds, and his accuser is 5-foot-8 and 110 pounds.
Nafasat eventually stopped the car and tried unsuccessfully to force the victim to perform oral sex before driving the man home, prosecutors said.
Following an investigation, Naffasat was charged in January 2015 with criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. Bail was set at $150,000, court records show, and Nafasat had posted the 10 percent needed to go free, $15,000, by February.
While free on bond pending trial, Nafasat is not allowed to drive for Uber or any service that involves "transporting people for fare," court records show.
In a separate motion filed this month, Nafasat's attorneys argued that it would be "highly prejudicial" to reference the February and July 2014 incidents at trial. Neither incident "constitute[d] an actual crime," the motion reads, and both could prevent Nafasat from receiving a fair trial.
Prisco, meanwhile, argued that the two incidents help demonstrate a cycle of "sexually inappropriate comments and actions."
A judge has not decided whether the two incidents can be referenced during trial.
While Uber would not elaborate on whether its safety procedures have changed since the 2014 incident, spokeswoman Kayla Whaling referred to a blog post detailing safety practices in California.
In the post, Uber writes that "no means of transportation can ever be 100 percent safe."
"Accidents and incidents will always happen," Uber said. "And when it comes to screening, every system has its flaws."
Whaling declined to say whether Uber has amended its safety policies since 2014 and would not explain how Uber handles complaints against its drivers.
The blog post said "riders and drivers with whom others have consistently had a very bad experience, or who have been involved in a serious safety incident while on the platform, will lose access to Uber."
The post offers no information on complaints against drivers.
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