Latest news with #MartinNjoki
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Uber driver accused in Bellevue, WA sexual assault case gets reduced bail
The Brief A King County rideshare driver accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old passenger in Bellevue pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Martin Njoki, 43, is facing one count of indecent liberties and one count of unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation. A judge lowered his bail to $30,000 and ordered that he be placed on home detention if released. BELLEVUE, Wash. - A King County rideshare driver accused of assaulting a teenage passenger during a ride in Bellevue appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to two felony charges. What we know Martin Njoki, 43, is facing one count of indecent liberties and one count of unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation. Prosecutors allege the incident occurred in Bellevue back in February during an Uber ride drop-off. "Mr. Njoki, has absolutely no criminal history whatsoever. He has no arrest histories. Never had a warrant and he also does not have the means to pay any bail," the defense attorney said during Thursday's hearing as she asked the judge to release their client. Njoki is no longer driving for Uber or Lyft, his attorney added, and is the primary provider for his mother and five children. More than 20 supporters of Njoki were present in the courtroom during his hearing. The prosecution opposed the request for release and asked the court to keep bail set at $150,000. Instead, Judge Averil Rothrock reduced the bond amount to $30,000 and ordered that Njoki be placed on home detention if released. "I do want to recognize that these are really serious allegations," Rothrock said. "The presumption of the release is overcome based on the nature of the allegations." The court also issued a sexual assault protection order related to the case. Njoki remains in custody at the King County Jail as of Thursday. The Source Information in this story is from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Othello, WA woman's arrest sparks national debate on immigration enforcement Passenger removed from Seattle plane after making 'inappropriate comment' Jeffrey Zizz charged in kidnapping, murder of WA grandmother How to watch, stream 2025 NFL Draft WA caregiver charged with sexually assaulting disabled teen 'Assault of any kind is disturbing': Seattle bar brawl suspect arraigned To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Washington Lyft driver charged after sexually assaulting teen passenger: police
A rideshare driver in Washington state is behind bars after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old female passenger during a ride in February. The Bellevue Police Department said Martin Njoki, 43, was charged with unlawful imprisonment and indecent liberties on April 14 following an incident with a teenage girl in the early morning hours of Feb. 17. A ride was requested through Lyft by the teenager's boyfriend for her to return home after she snuck out to visit him at his house in SeaTac, which is about 20 miles from Bellevue, according to police documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Former California Rideshare Driver Punched Rider After Thinking Man Was Jewish Or Israeli, Doj Says When Njoki arrived to pick her up, she attempted to sit in the front passenger seat, but there were items in the way, so she went to sit in the back. He allegedly moved the items and told her to sit in the front. The girl told police that she and Njoki talked for nearly the entire drive, but the conversation changed when they got closer to her home. Njoki allegedly told her he liked her and asked if she would "kiss and tell" and then asked if he could kiss her. Read On The Fox News App Police said she told him she had a boyfriend, to which he allegedly said "but you don't kiss and tell," The Statesman reported. He is then accused of forcing her to touch his crotch and groping her when she tried to leave. The teenager was able to escape the car and called her boyfriend, who reported the assault to police at 4:39 a.m., the department said. Arizona Woman Charged With Murder Of Rideshare Driver After Allegedly Using His Car To Run Him Over: Report Njoki's account with Lyft was suspended "due to allegations relating to touching a passenger in a sexual manner without consent," The Statesman reported. Court documents obtained by the outlet said he emailed Lyft and told the company he didn't touch the teen but she had gotten "annoyed with me because I didn't let them sit upfront." Fox News Digital has reached out to Lyft for a statement. Bellevue police have asked any other victims of his to come forward, adding that he drove a Mitsubishi with the license plate number CBM2456. "Sexual assault incidents while using ridesharing services are rare, but the crime does happen – including in cities like Bellevue," the department said on social media. King County Jail records show Njoki remains in custody with bail set at $150,000. He is in the U.S. on a work visa, and has a pregnant wife and five children back home in Kenya, according to The article source: Washington Lyft driver charged after sexually assaulting teen passenger: police
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lyft driver gropes 16-year-old and asks if she'll ‘kiss and tell,' WA cops say
A Lyft driver is accused of groping a 16-year-old girl during a ride and asking her if she would 'kiss and tell,' Washington prosecutors said. Martin Njoki, 43, from Kenya, was charged Monday, April 14, with indecent liberties and unlawful imprisonment with a sexual motivation enhancement, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. 'The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society. We immediately banned the driver from the Lyft platform and reached out to the ride requester to offer support as soon as we became aware of the situation. We are also assisting law enforcement with their investigation,' a Lyft spokesperson told McClatchy News by email April 16. The incident was reported to police at 4:39 a.m. on Feb. 17, the Bellevue Police Department said in a probable cause statement. The teenage girl sneaked out of her house in Bellevue and took a Lyft to her 18-year-old boyfriend's house in SeaTac, police said. SeaTac is about a 20-mile drive south from Bellevue. The boyfriend called her a Lyft back home and watched her get into the car, he told police. The teen girl told police she opened the front door of the car, but there were items in the seat, so she tried to sit in the back. The driver moved the items and told her to sit in the front, so she did, police said. The girl and driver spoke for most of the ride, but as they got near her home, Njoki told her he liked her and asked, 'Do you kiss and tell?' according to the documents. Njoki asked if he could kiss her, and the teen told him she had a boyfriend, to which he responded, 'But you don't kiss and tell,' police said. He then forced her to touch his crotch and grabbed her arm and groped her when she tried to leave, according to the documents. She called her boyfriend crying, and he reported the assault to police, authorities said. Lyft suspended Njoki's account 'due to allegations relating to touching a passenger in a sexual manner without consent,' police said in the probable cause statement. He emailed Lyft and told the company he didn't touch the teen but she had gotten 'annoyed with me because I didn't let them sit upfront,' the court documents said. Njoki is in the U.S. on a work visa, and his pregnant wife and five children live in Kenya, police said. He is in jail and his bail is set at $150,000. His next court date is April 24. Bellevue is about a 10-mile drive east from Seattle. Uber driver trying to 'beat' yellow light crashes and injures passengers, AZ cops say 61-year-old Uber driver gropes woman after she ends call with sister, PA official says Man lures 13-year-old he met on TikTok to his apartment 300 miles away, PA cops say
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Rideshare driver charged in sexual assault of 16-year-old girl in Bellevue, WA
The Brief A King County rideshare driver was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old passenger as he was dropping her off in Bellevue. Martin Njoki, 43, is charged with unlawful imprisonment and indecent liberties. He is jailed on $150,000 bail. BELLEVUE, Wash. - A rideshare driver is sitting in King County Jail, accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old passenger before dropping her off in Bellevue. What we know Martin Njoki, 43, is charged with unlawful imprisonment and indecent liberties in connection to an incident that happened in the early morning hours of Feb. 17. A 16-year-old girl says she was being driven home by Njoki around 4:45 a.m. Njoki allegedly convinced her to sit in the front seat of his car as he picked her up, moving some of his belongings out of the way. The two talked most of the ride, with Njoki asking questions like "Do you kiss and tell?" and if the girl would kiss him. Police said Njoki stopped a couple blocks shy of the 16-year-old's home and made sexual advances on her. He locked the passenger door, made her touch him inappropriately and repeatedly groped the teen, court documents state. The victim was eventually able to escape Njoki's vehicle, and he sped off. Njoki was arrested on April 10 following a police investigation. Now, Bellevue Police are asking any additional victims of Njoki to come forward. Police say he drove a Mitsubishi with the license plate number CBM2456. Potential victims can call 911 or the BPD non-emergency line at 425-577-5656. Njoki is currently being held in the King County Jail on $150,000 bail. He is scheduled to enter a plea in his case on April 24. The Source Information in this story is from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Bellevue Police Department. Drunken night caught on bodycam costs Mercer Island cop his rank FEMA denies $34M in funds for WA bomb cyclone relief, gives no explanation 1997 WA cold case victim identified; Gary Ridgway not ruled out 2 charged in brutal Burien kidnapping, attempted murder Watch: Coyote gets 'booped' by its potential rodent dinner Red Robin launching Bottomless Burger Pass for National Burger Month To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
