Denver Man Sentenced to 290 Years for Kidnapping and Sexual Assaults Posing as Rideshare Driver

John Pastor-Mendoza targeted intoxicated women over four years, posing as their ride-hailing driver to commit a series of assaults.

John Pastor-Mendoza, 43, was sentenced to 290 years to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting women in Denver between 2018 and 2022.
He posed as a rideshare driver to lure intoxicated women, often outside bars and clubs, and attacked them after they entered his vehicle.
Pastor-Mendoza was convicted in October on 30 criminal counts, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault involving 12 victims.
DNA evidence linked him to several cases, and police found stolen items, including cellphones and a bank card, as well as drugs at his home.
Victims praised the severe sentence and shared their experiences of survival, with one describing Pastor-Mendoza as a 'monster' they fought to bring to justice.