# @denverwestword on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DKADpfox3bf
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/30853721-denverwestword-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/fffc28a3c5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-05-23T15:20:31.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Denver Westword (@denverwestword) — https://gondola.cc/denverwestword

## Caption

For four years, John Pastor-Mendoza used his job as a Lyft driver to victimize the women of Denver.

Pastor-Mendoza targeted women leaving downtown bars, pretending to be their assigned driver to lure them into his vehicle. Several victims say he gave them water bottles laced with drugs, causing them to black out. Some woke up in an unknown home with Pastor-Mendoza, missing their underwear and other personal belongings. Others awoke to Pastor-Mendoza on top of them inside the vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit.

Pastor-Mendoza, 43, was sentenced in March to 290 years in prison for thirty charges connected to the kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted assault of a dozen women. Ten of those survivors are now asking Governor Jared Polis to sign a bill intended to improve rideshare safety.

Eric Maruyama, spokesperson for the governor, says Polis is still reviewing the final version of the bill. However, its chances appear slim.

Maruyama says Polis “is committed to making Colorado safer for everyone, including making sure ride-sharing companies are keeping riders and drivers safe.”

“The governor appreciates the bravery of any sexual assault survivor who shares their story and is committed to ensuring perpetrators of sexual crimes are held accountable to the full extent of the law,” he adds.

✍️ Read the full story by hannahmetzgermedia at westword.com or at the link in our bio.

#denver #jaredpolis #copolitics #lyft #uber #rideshare #denvercolorado #denvernews #westword

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 837
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- **Comments:** 26

## Tags

rideshare, uber, lyft, jaredpolis, denver, denvernews, denvercolorado, westword, copolitics

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