Ride-share driver accused of raping female passenger in Dorchester

BOSTON — An Everett man who is a driver for the ride-sharing company Uber has been charged with raping a passenger after picking her up from downtown Boston.

Police say Michael Squadrito, 40, allegedly drove to a location in Dorchester and sexually assaulted a woman in her 20's.

The man does admit to having sex with the woman, but he says it was consensual. Boston Police say their investigation, however, determined a different set of facts.

Boston PD is saying a birthday celebration turned into a crime scene in the backseat of the Uber.

Prosecutors said the woman was celebrating her birthday when she requested an Uber to head home.

After Squadrito picked her up, he did not take her straight home.

"She stated the suspect exited the vehicle and got into the back seat," Suffolk County prosecutor Darcy Currey says. "She remembers the suspect getting on top of her."

Police say Squadrito picked up the woman near Faneuil Hall and was scheduled to drive her to the Shawmut area of Dorchester. Before the scheduled drop-off, he pulled over in a one-way street and raped her in the back seat.

Police said the victim fled the vehicle, called a family member to disclose the assault and then admitted herself to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit detectives responded to interview her.

The woman then gave investigators her phone, which identified Squadrito as her driver through the Uber app.

Squadrito's attorney says the encounter was consensual and that there is video from inside the car, but no audio.

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However, a memory card he provided didn't provide any data or support.

Squadrito told police that the victim told him to pull over and consented to having sex.

Police say this is not the first time this man has gotten in trouble. In 2015, Squadrito was arrested in Chelsea where police say he was trying to solicit sex.

"What's been reported is deeply disturbing and our thoughts are with the rider during this difficult time," Uber said in a statement.

They added that the driver's access to the ride-sharing app has been removed.

Squadrito is being held on $10,000 bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday, and he will return to court on November 21.

If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, resources are available via a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-841-8371.

Cox Media Group