Jury finds former Lyft driver guilty of felony sexual assault crimes
Author: District Attorney
Date:
12/6/2019 4:30:12 PM
After a three-week jury trial, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Jason Lamont Fenwick guilty of assault with the intent to commit sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of surreptitious photographing. The defendant was a Lyft driver who committed these crimes against a female passenger after driving her to her Nipomo residence shortly after 1:30 am on November 4, 2018.
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury found Jason Lamont Fenwick (DOB 02/13/1967) guilty of the following four crimes: assault with the intent to commit sexual assault, oral copulation of an intoxicated victim, sexual penetration of an intoxicated victim, and surreptitious photographing of the sexual assault victim. The jury found Mr. Fenwick not guilty of burglary with the intent to commit sexual assault.
These crimes occurred shortly after 1:30 am on November 4, 2018 after the defendant drove the victim to her residence in Nipomo. At the time he committed these crimes, Mr. Fenwick was working as a Lyft driver when he picked up the victim in Arroyo Grande and drove her to her residence in Nipomo. The evidence established that Mr. Fenwick sexually assaulted the victim while she was prevented from resisting due to her level of intoxication and periods of unconsciousness.
“We thank the jury for their efforts in this difficult and emotional case,” said Deputy District Attorney Christopher White who prosecuted the case. “This young woman is a survivor who demonstrated tremendous courage by reporting the crime and testifying in court which was absolutely necessary in order to hold the defendant accountable. We also thank the Sheriff’s Detective Bureau and District Attorney staff who worked tirelessly to see that justice was done.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 8 of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Matthew Guerrero presiding. Mr. Fenwick faces a maximum term of ten years in state prison for his convictions.
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christopher White.
A copy of the charging document can be found here. A copy of the defendants booking photo can be found here.
Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.