News 4 in Jacksonville reports that Ingo Krieg, an Uber driver in the Jacksonville area has been arrested after being accused of fondling a 15-year-old girl. According to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged incident took place as Krieg was driving the girl from her home in Jacksonville to her boyfriend’s home in Macclenny.
Investigators said the teenager told deputies that she and Krieg had met on a previous day when she had requested a ride, and that the two exchanged telephone numbers at that time. According to deputies, Krieg picked up the teenager a second time on Tuesday, which is when the she said she was groped.
The Sheriff’s Office said the 15-year-old told them that Krieg made vulgar statements and she said Krieg offered to exchange the car ride for sexual favors. Investigators said the teenager was able to capture videos and photos of what happened on her cellphone.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Krieg admitted to molesting the girl while driving in Baker County. He was placed under arrest and charged with lewd or lascivious molestation, a second-degree felony. According to his arrest report, Krieg told deputies the teen said she was 18.
Records show that in 1999, Krieg pleaded no contest to soliciting prostitution, and adjudication was withheld, which is not a conviction. Uber will not hire people with convictions for felonies, violent crimes or sex offenses within the past seven years, but this case illustrates loopholes in their hiring practices that allow for people like Krieg to become Uber drivers without raising any red flags.