A Lyft driver from Hazle Twp. has been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a semiconscious man he picked up to give a ride on Tuesday evening, according to state police.
Edwin Valentin Perez, 39, of 1207 Four Seasons Court, is jailed on felony sexual assault charges following the encounter that allegedly took place in the area of 1030 W. Main St. around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
According to state police, Valentin Perez was working as a ride-share driver for Lyft when he picked up the male victim in Nanticoke.
While en route across the West Nanticoke Bridge to Plymouth Twp., Valentin Perez pulled out a small bottle with a black label and a lightning bolt on it, troopers said. The victim reported seeing two cotton balls in the bottle and then feeling like he was going unconscious, according to the complaint.
Troopers described the man as being intoxicated by an “inhalant-type substance.”
With the man incapacitated, Valentin Perez drove him to a dirt road in Plymouth Twp., police said.
Valentin Perez then proceeded to pull down the man’s pants, fondle him and then made the man perform oral sex on him, according to the complaint.
Eventually the victim said he wanted to leave and Valentin Perez then dropped him off at the Family Dollar in Plymouth, troopers said.
The victim reported the incident later Tuesday night, and troopers identified Valentin Perez because he had been involved in a similar incident in May.
In both cases, Valentin Perez was driving a red Toyota RAV-4, license plate LFK-1645, troopers said. Investigators said anyone who thinks they may have been similarly victimized should contact the Troop P Wilkes-Barre Criminal Investigation Unit at 570-822-5515.
Valentin Perez was arrested Wednesday and charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of an unconscious person, sexual assault and false imprisonment.
Magisterial District Judge Kyle Halesey arraigned him on the charges and set bail at $100,000.
Valentin…