Paso Robles woman says Uber driver sexually assaulted her. But she was the one arrested
A Paso Robles woman is suing her Uber driver, who she claims sexually assaulted her and then had her arrested for allegedly attacking him.
Jill Marsh, represented by attorney Jeffrey Stulberg, on Jan. 22 filed a civil lawsuit against Abdelhadi Lebbar and Uber Technologies in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.
Civil lawsuits provide only plaintiffs’ points of view — defendants’ perspectives are not included.
Marsh used the Uber app to hail a ride home on Sept. 14, and Lebbar was dispatched to pick her up, the complaint says.
She sat in the car’s rear passenger-side seat, and the trip seemed normal until Lebbar drove past a street on which he should’ve turned to take Marsh to her house.
Marsh claims she told Lebbar he missed the turn, but he ignored her and continued onto Geneseo Road. She became frightened as Lebbar continued driving in a rural, dark area of town. Marsh asked him to stop the car and let her out, but he refused.
Lebbar eventually stopped the car in the dark, opened the passenger door and tried to get into the car beside Marsh, she said.
The two struggled for several minutes as Lebbar “placed his hands on (Marsh’s) body, breasts and abdomen without her consent, resulting in bruising to her skin in these areas,” the complaint says.
Marsh tried to call 911, but was unable to complete the call.
Frustrated, Lebbar returned to the driver’s seat and wouldn’t tell Marsh where he was going. He called the Paso Robles police and claimed Marsh had attacked him in response to his “panic over the consequences of what he had done,” the complaint says.
Lebbar requested an officer meet him at a nearby gas station, where Marsh was taken into custody.
Assault and public intoxication arrest
Marsh was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication and misdemeanor assault and battery, according to the Paso Robles Police Department.
The police report taken after officers responded to the incident claims Lebbar asked for assistance “regarding a violent Uber fare.” Chief Ty Lewis provided The Tribune with an emailed summary of the report.
Lebbar claimed Marsh threw a cup at the back of his head and ripped his glasses off while he was driving, the report says. He had a red mark on the back of his head, and his glasses were broken.
“Ms. Marsh was extremely intoxicated and admitted to striking Lebbar,” the report says. “He requested prosecution for the battery against him. Ms. Marsh made mention of some type of assault against her … however, she never explained what that assault was, despite repeated requests by the investigating officer. She was extremely intoxicated.”
Officers found no evidence of Marsh’s assault allegation, according to the report.
“Based upon your inquiry, it seems appropriate that we reach out to Ms. Marsh to gain a clarifying statement that we can add to our report,” Lewis wrote. “To my knowledge she never reached out to us after her arrest.”
Paso Robles police recommended the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office file criminal charges against Marsh.
The District Attorney’s Office is still reviewing potential charges against Marsh, said Jerret Gran, chief deputy district attorney.
“The complaint filed in San Luis Obispo Superior Court speaks for itself,” said Stulberg, Marsh’s attorney, in an email. “We have no further comment at this time, other than looking forward to presenting this case to a local jury.”
