A Santa Clarita man appeared in court Thursday after he allegedly raped seven women in a span of 15 months while posing as a rideshare driver, officials said.
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Nicolas Morales, 44, was charged with 27 felony counts for assaulting seven separate women while posing as a rideshare driver in areas throughout Los Angeles County, including Alhambra, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The charges include: nine counts of forcible oral copulation, six counts of rape, five counts sodomy by use of force, four counts of sexual penetration by foreign object, and one count each of assault with intent to commit a felony, attempted sodomy by use of force and attempted kidnapping to commit another crime.
The felony complaint also includes multiple victims and knife allegations.
Prosecutors said Morales posed as a rideshare driver from October 2016 to January 2018.
Related: Santa Clarita Man Charged With 27 Felonies For Raping Seven Women
If convicted as charged, Morales faces a maximum possible sentence of 300 years to life in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration.
The case is being investigated by the Alhambra and Los Angeles Police Departments and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran of the Victim Impact Program is assigned to the case.
Morales is due back in court on Nov. 14 for a preliminary setting, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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