From Local ABC
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (7News) — TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers.
An Uber driver accused of raping his daughter’s 15-year-old female friend was released from jail last week without having to pay any money, court records obtained by 7News reveal.
Montgomery County Police have charged Isaias Mendez, 41, of Gaithersburg, with sex abuse of a minor, second-degree rape, and third-degree sex offense.
On May 21, Mendez allegedly picked the teenage victim up in Anne Arundel County and drove her back to a house on Grantchester Place in Gaithersburg where he rented a single bedroom. Mendez’s biological teenage daughter was also in the car. Mendez was planning to take the girls on a family trip to Virginia Beach, Virginia, early that next morning.
During a June 9, interview with detectives, the 15-year-old victim stated that Mendez had a single bed in his bedroom. On the night of the alleged rape, Mendez’s daughter suggested the two girls sleep on the bedroom floor. However, Mendez allegedly asked his daughter’s friend to sleep in his bed instead.
“Victim A said she complied and woke in the night to Mendez sticking his tongue in her mouth,” police wrote in their statement of charges. “She said Mendez reached under her top and touched her skin, rubbing in a circular motion, then pulled up her shirt and sucked on the side of her breast.”
Mendez — who is 5-foot-9 and 240 pounds — allegedly proceeded to touch the girl’s genitals and later placed her hand over his genitals.
“She said he licked her ear and asked, ‘Do you like that?’ She told him, no, but he continued,” authorities detailed.
Despite the victim’s age and verbal denials, police say Mendez continued by digitally penetrating the girl’s genitals and kissing her back.
“Victim A crossed her legs and turned onto her stomach… Victim A said she typed a note saying that she was on her period and to please stop. She showed this note to Mendez, who stopped long enough for Victim A to climb down to the floor and join her friend.”
Montgomery County Police arrested Mendez on June 10, one day after their forensic interview with the 15-year-old girl. The following afternoon, Montgomery County District Court Sherri Koch ordered Mendez remain in jail without bail while awaiting trial.
Two weeks later, Montgomery County District Court Judge Holly Reed came to the same conclusion during a bond reconsideration hearing.
Undeterred, defense attorney Rodney Hermann filed a “motion for bond review” with the court. In that two-page document, Hermann noted that the maternal grandmother of Mendez’s children was “happy” to have him live at her home along the 8600 block of Locust Grove Drive in Laurel.
“There are four individuals currently residing at the aforementioned address — all family members and all over the age of eighteen,” Hermann wrote in an attempt to obtain his client’s release from jail. “The defendant is not a flight risk. He has significant ties to Montgomery County, Maryland where he has resided for the past 15 years.”
Hermann further noted that Mendez has no prior criminal history and poses no danger to the community.
“In fact, this is the first time the defendant has ever been handcuffed or incarcerated,” Hermann added.
According to court records, on July 9, Judge Koch reversed her initial decision and provided Mendez with a $10,000 unsecured personal bond. That allowed the accused child rapist to be released from jail without putting down any money or property as collateral.
Mendez told the court that he has driven for Uber for the last two years. The San Francisco-based transportation company explained to 7News that it immediately deactivated Mendez’s access to the app upon becoming aware of the criminal case. It also stressed that Mendez was not driving on the platform at the time of the alleged rape.
Per company protocol, Uber performs criminal and motor vehicle background checks when a driver first applies to use the platform. The company added that it re-runs background checks every year and utilizes technology that sends an alert should authorities charge or arrest a driver, like Mendez, for a crime.
According to court records, Mendez was born in El Salvador. He is currently separated from his wife and has two children.
Mendez faces up to 55 years in prison. Defense attorney Rodney Hermann did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. No future court date is currently scheduled.
