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A 43-year-old rideshare operator has been apprehended and charged with kidnapping and several sexual assault offenses, leading authorities to seek out other potential victims.
Felipe Rico-Ceballos, a resident of Ontario, California, was detained on March 5, following allegations of an attack on February 27. This information comes from a statement by the Costa Mesa Police Department.
According to police reports, Rico-Ceballos allegedly offered assistance to an intoxicated woman, promising to get her home safely. Instead, he reportedly took her to a different location where the assault occurred and subsequently left her at another venue.
The Costa Mesa Police Department released a statement on Facebook, saying, “We are working to identify any other victims who may have encountered this man during his time as a rideshare driver. Detectives are enlisting the community’s help due to the nature of his job, which may have put others at risk.”
An incident involving a rideshare driver in Costa Mesa, California, who allegedly assaulted a passenger on February 27, 2026, is under investigation. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed formal charges against Rico-Ceballos.
Felipe Rico-Ceballos, 43, is accused of picking up a woman for a ride share and sexually assaulting her in Costa Mesa, California.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and urged people to contact them if they have information or if they think they might be a victim of the suspect.