Overview
- Felipe Rico-Ceballos, 43, of Ontario, was arrested on March 5 and charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office with multiple counts including sexual assault and kidnapping.
- Police say he posed as a rideshare driver, told an intoxicated woman he would get her home, then drove her to another location, sexually assaulted her, and later dropped her at a third site.
- The case originated Feb. 27 when Costa Mesa officers were dispatched to a hospital after a reported assault linked to the 2100 block of Newport Boulevard.
- Investigators determined Rico-Ceballos works for a rideshare company and are assessing whether other passengers across Southern California were similarly targeted.
- Anyone with information or who believes they were victimized is urged to contact Detective E. Peralta at 714-754-5039 or Sergeant J. Jacobi at 714-754-5352.