Done

The man who picked up an Uber fare and raped pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced by Middlesex Superior Court Judge Merita Hopkins to 10 to a dozen years in state prison, followed by five years probation.

Alejandro Done, 47, of Boston pleaded to charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping, and assault and battery, admitting that at about 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 he was stopped on Tremont Street in Boston, where a young woman was waiting for an Uber – and he presented himself as her ride.

Once she was inside, he told her he would need cash payment – contrary to the point of Uber, which operates entirely by smartphone app – and stopped the car so she could go to an ATM. When she had the cash, he drove to a secluded spot, pulled over and climbed into the locked backseat with her, hitting her, strangling her and covering her mouth so she could not scream. The defendant then sexually assaulted the woman, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

“The defendant preyed upon a young woman who trusted that he was who he portrayed himself to be,” Ryan said.

“I encourage the public to take precautions when using any ride-sharing service. While these apps are a modern convenience, they are not without their risks,” she said of Uber and other services summoned by smartphone. “Customers should make sure to verify license plates and car make and models before entering any vehicle, and remain active and aware of their surroundings.”

This post took significant amounts of material from a press release.