Edhat Staff
San Luis Obispo’s District Attorney held a press conference to discuss the details of the Uber driver accused of raping and burglarizing passengers and look for potentially more victims.
Registered Uber driver and Santa Maria resident, 39-year-old Alfonso Alarcon-Nunez, was arrested after police served a search warrant of his residence on January 17. Alarcon-Nunez was identified as a suspect in now four separate sexual assault and burglary cases between December 18th, 2017 and January 14th, 2018. He is now charged with 10 felonies that include rape of an intoxicated victim, first-degree felony burglary, and grand theft.
On Monday, San Luis Obispo District Attorney Dan Dow held a press conference with law enforcement partner agencies, highlighting the development of the case, information on the defendant, as well as the charges filed. Officials are also seeking the public’s help in finding additional witnesses and possible victims as he is believed to have driven in the City as Santa Barbara as early as September of 2017.
Dow stated there are seven different active investigations being worked on where Alarcon-Nunez is the suspect, who also used the alias Bruno Diaz. Currently, the four victims are young college women in the San Luis Obispo area.
Dow also stated the Department of Homeland Security (ICE) had reported that Alarcon-Nunez is an undocumented immigrant and citizen of Mexico. He was deported voluntarily in 2005 from New Mexico, but it is unclear why. Dow stated the County of San Luis Obispo would prosecute this case and not turn it over to ICE.
During the press conference, a reporter asked why Alarcon-Nunez’ immigration status was relevant. Dow responded stating that consumers should be able to trust companies, such as Uber, to provide a safe service. “I think it’s absolutely relevant as to whether or not someone is here with proper lawful documentation in terms of that analysis of security, at least then the employer, or the contractor if you will, Uber, that company, would have an opportunity to look further into their background and make sure that any drivers using their service are not any kind of unreasonable risk.”
The reporter inside the press conference followed up, “So are you saying that undocumented people pose unreasonable risks?”
“No, I’m just saying it’s one factor that should be known. I believe when someone is given the opportunity to provide a professional service of driving, where other people as I said are trusting on them to get them home safely, when they probably in many cases cant get home safely on their own, so I think its one important factor to be considered in a hiring process,” said Dow.
Below is the full video of the press conference:
Detectives learned that Alarcon-Nunez is employed as an Uber driver and had provided service in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The investigation revealed he was targeting intoxicated females and escorting them into their residence where he would then sexually assault them. It is believed he stole items of property from the victims including cellular phones, computers, and jewelry. Detectives believe Alarcon-Nunez would search for parties in San Luis Obispo and solicit rides as an Uber driver. The investigation revealed Alarconnunez would collect payment through a Venmo pay service to disguise his identity and his Uber records.
On Monday, Alarcon-Nunez appeared in Department 3 for his arraignment, entering not-guilty pleas for all charges. He remains in custody with bail set at $1,470,000. The next court date is scheduled for 01/29/2018 in Department 7.
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact 805-549-7687. They also issued a warning for those using “for-hire” driving services to be wary and to use a designated driver instead.
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January 20, 2018 – Uber Driver Arrested for Raping Passengers
Where are his defenders now.
I guess that was part of his better life. Should California continue to give him sanctuary after he serves his time or will they notify ICE?
What is conspicuously omitted is that this individual was able to drive for Uber because Moonbeam authorized drivers licensed to be issued to undocumented individuals (ILLEGAL ALIENS). Now Moonbeam wants them to automatically be eligible to vote. How the Sanctuary State working out for you? How many Kate Steinle’s and college students will be victimized before a message is sent to Moonbeam, Kamala, and Xavier? What would you do if it was YOUR daughter? Absolutely pathetic voter base.
Well if msnbc runs this, i will eat my shirt.
I say this becasue i think i am getting the higherarchy here. So its #metoo and timesup if the accused has citizenship. But if they are undocumented its… lets not jump to conclusions and lets wait for the results… dna is pretty solid evidence especially with multiple victims but… why is his status pertinent? Bla blah. we are still gonna have a long trial… and then we get to put him up for the rest of his life because we dont want to take the chance he sneaks back in and hurts another innocent person. The issue is how many people do you want to have driving you around that do not have legal status and no way to trace their criminal history… right now its every undocumented person with a drivers liscense a smartphone and the desire to drive for money.
These news organization that have yet to report on this But have spent the last month covering well paid celebreties who are supposedly sticking up for women. These poor women were raped and robbed and the least a news organization can do is spread the word so that other victims could feel safe to come forward. Doesnt fit jnto the narrative though.
I agree with your comment except the part where we lock him up for life (which if he is guilty he should be!) but, in reality, he will do a few years and get out get subsidized housing, free medical, dental, job training, an EBT card, and a plethora of other services all because we don’t want to put our foot down. Wtf California.
How will that stop your home grown offenders?
His status is relevant in showing his penchant for being a criminal.
Not every illegal is a rapist or thief and not every rapist or thief is an illegal immigrant. Let’s not cloud the issue with that political hot potato. Uber is not doing what has to be done–thoroughly background check its drivers–to insure the safety of those who use its service. Are their drivers’ vehicles checked?
Aren’t licensed, cab companies required by law to do that? I don’t have a dog in the cab vs independents fight, but basic safety must be required for driver & vehicle since passengers don’t know drivers/cars.
Uber does a more thorough background check than the State does for gov job. The previously deported undocumented rapist was able to walk over the boarder, he stole another drivers ID, he was able to walk into the DMV and get a license no questions asked, and he received sanctuary from the state. And you wonder how Trump got elected; ask the victims and their families.
What about the state of California being held partially liable for this since our “leaders” have made us into a sanctuary for people like this perp.
And this type of thing will be the reason that Mr Trump will be re-elected. The Democrats are proving that they are less interested in protecting the American people than they are in holding office.
I was right. Build the wall.
No not at all his is entitled to a fair trail like that person said the other day while jumping my ship about justice, this and justice that Had he or she gone through what I have and seen others go through they might feel differently too though they might not ever admit it..If found guilty for an intentional rape I believe the death penalty would be a great deterrent to ever re offending on his part. Though some say the death penalty don’t work sure it does if the offender is dead they don’t reoffend 100 Percent success rate. As far as prison life on the bottom bunk nowadays many sex offenders get locked up with other sex offenders and go to therapy because they are considered to be mentally ill and not criminals even though many sex offenders rapists and child molesters force their weaker victims into doing some horrible acts which is one of the reasons having survived both rape and molestation being beaten, sliced with a knife on my chin, back punctured on the back of my neck, sliced on my shoulder, stabbed in my knee and below my knee and sliced below my waist I would thoroughly enjoy wood chipping some of these guys…I hate sex offenders but not all lawyers I like acouple lawyers..Though some might not agree I am a survivor of these crimes I am otherwise I’d be hunting these scum bags…Sex offenders kill the souls of their victims it’s only right that punishment for their crimes beyond a shadow of a doubt should be death. My opinion.
This is the direct result of giving ILLEGAL Aliens driver’s licenses. The rights and privileges of citizenship are NOT for those who sneak in….. and yet. Uber has a lot to answer for, and at least 4 women had their lives impacted by a terrible experience that will color their ability to trust.
He plead not guilty? Should we just believe him without proof like the DMV did? Presumed innocent gets pretty tricky when you define innocent as illegally here oops undocumented.