New York Uber Driver Accused of Kidnapping Teen After Sweet 16 Party

A man who drove for Uber in New York has been arraigned on charges for allegedly kidnapping a 15-year-old girl during her ride home from a Sweet 15 party, Nassau County prosecutors say.

Sean Williams, 32, picked the teenager up on July 12 from a party in Atlantic Beach, New York, with the ride's destination about 16 miles away in Merrick, the district attorney's office said.

However, at one point, Williams canceled the ride and attempted to convince the victim to go drinking with him, prosecutors said. He told the girl he wanted her to go home with him to his home in Brooklyn - the opposite direction of the teenager's scheduled destination.

The victim refused, and tried telling the driver she was only 15, asking him multiple times to take her home. However, the Williams continued driving in the wrong direction.

When the pair reached Brooklyn, the victim convinced Williams she needed to use the bathroom, and he pulled over. That's when she ran for a nearby fast-food restaurant to call the police. Williams followed the victim into the restaurant, but fled before police arrived.

Williams was arrested outside his home in Brooklyn four days later on July 16.

“What has been reported is deeply alarming and the driver’s access to the app has been removed. We stand ready to cooperate with law enforcement,” Uber said in a statement Thursday.

The 32-year-old former driver was charged with multiple crimes, including kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, and kidnapping as a sexually motivated felony. He's pleaded 'Not Guilty.' He's due back in court on Sept. 18 and faces up to 25 years in prison.

“The family of a 15-year old girl relied on a car service to get their daughter home safely after she attended a Sweet Sixteen party, but the defendant allegedly kidnapped her and wanted to sexually assault her after giving her alcohol,” DA Singas said. “The girl was terrorized by the defendant’s alleged behavior and bravely took action to contact police and free herself.”

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office