Montgomery Co. man allegedly posed as rideshare driver during sexual abuse

A Bethesda, Maryland, man accused of sexually abusing two women while posing as a rideshare driver was charged last week, according to Montgomery County police.

Claudio Vizcarra, 45, was charged with first degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor sexual abuse after two victims claimed that he made sexual, physical contact with them in what seemed to be rideshares.

He was charged in the two sex abuse cases in D.C. Superior Court and was released under high intensity supervision Thursday.

According to police reports and court documents, Vizcarra was accused of engaging in unwanted sexual contact. When contacted by our news partners at NBC Washington, his defense attorney said Vizcarra is innocent.

“When all the relevant facts come to light, Mr. Vizcarra will be exonerated,” he told NBC Washington.

The first reported assault happened early Sunday, Apr. 30, in Northwest D.C.

Police records show that, just before midnight, the first victim needed a ride home from Sauf Haus Bier Hall in Dupont Circle. After multiple rideshares were canceled, court documents alleged that Vizcarra offered to give the woman a ride home from the bar that morning. He allegedly asked the victim to sit in the front seat because he was picking up other rideshare passengers.

The victim said Vizcarra drove for a few minutes before parking in front of an apartment building. When the car stopped, she said, the sexual assault began.

Vizcarra allegedly drove the woman home before she called the Arlington County Police Department to report the assault. The victim was transported to a local hospital and given a sexual assault examination.

The District’s Sexual Assault Unit was made aware of the case on Tuesday, May 3.

Months later, on Oct. 29, a woman was in the Adams Morgan area for a Halloween party when she needed a ride home. After she canceled her Uber ride, Vizcarra allegedly offered her a ride home and said he was an Uber driver.

Similar advances were made by Vizcarra, who she said began touching her inner thigh and kissing her. Once the victim said she had a boyfriend, the encounter stopped. The woman texted and eventually talked on the phone for the remainder of the ride.

By Oct. 31, Vizcarra’s vehicle was identified and towed by D.C. police. On Nov. 4, he was served a warrant and told police that “the last time he drove for Uber was approximately two years ago.”

On that day, a DNA sample was taken and compared to DNA from the first victim in this case. A forensics lab determined that the DNA matched.

Vizcarra’s next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23.

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