This morning, Felix Manuel Torres was sentenced to life in prison for Sexual Battery with Great Force While Masked. The former Uber driver raped a passenger in 2022. He was convicted at trial last month.
Assistant State Attorney Adam Sullivan and Assistant State Attorney Erin Hughes, Lee County Circuit Court Assistant Chief, prosecuted the case.
“A young woman simply trying to go home was viciously attacked by the person hired to drive her home safely. Now the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison for this horrendous crime,” said State Attorney Amira Fox.
The crime happened on December 4, 2022. The victim was returning home to her apartment in Lee County from Naples, via Uber. The defendant picked her up and drove the woman to her home. She exited the vehicle and walked towards her apartment. The defendant then approached her and pushed her to the ground. The victim attempted to fight back by kicking the defendant and screaming. He overpowered her and raped her, while wearing a mask to conceal his identity.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation. Witness testimony and information from Uber led to the positive identification and arrest of the defendant.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director