Chidiebere Nwokorie (Courtesy of Anchorage Police Dept.) |
The Anchorage Police Department says multiple women have stepped forward claiming a Yellow Cab driver sexually assaulted them.
Anchorage resident Chidiebere Nwokorie, 43, was arrested Sunday for sexual assault in the first degree, attempted sexual assault in the first degree and sexual assault in the second degree.
A woman told police Nwokorie offered her a free ride in his cab in order to help her look for a battery for her cell phone. Nwokorie allegedly took her to the Yellow Cab service yard on Ship Avenue. According to the victim, Nwokorie sexually assaulted her in the back of his cab.
Police say a passing motorist saw the victim on Ship Avenue without any pants on and holding Nwokorie's cell phone moments after the incident. The motorists stopped and called 9-1-1.
When detectives arrived the motorist was holding Nwokorie at gunpoint after the victim became upset when Nwokorie approached.
During a bail hearing on Sunday, Magistrate James Stanley set the bail at $5,000 deposit or surety bond, without a 3rd party custodian.
Detectives said drugs and alcohol were not a factor on either side.
Nwokorie posted bail, he will be arraigned later this month.
Standing Together Against Rape and members of the public have expressed outrage that Nwokorie is out on bail, sexual assault in the first degree is an unclassified felony, which is the highest level in Alaska.
KTUU requested a copy of the bail hearing, but was informed by APD that it had been sealed by a judge for 60 days. Because of the potential for other claims coming into APD the specific information from the bail hearing that has case specific facts and details that could taint other cases, it is not being released, according to lead investigator Det. John Vandervalk.
Alaska Bar Association records show Magistrate Stanley has been involved in family law, real estate and security disability cases, all of which are civil.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
