Former Boston Uber driver accused in 2014 rape faces five new sexual assault charges

A former Boston Uber driver accused of raping a female passenger last year has been connected to several sexual assaults in the area. Alejandro Done now faces charges in five unsolved rape cases dating as far back as 2006.

According to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley, the 46-year-old has been in police custody since December for the rape of a female passenger. After providing police with a DNA sample, Done was linked to several Boston-area sexual assaults between 2006 and 2010.

The Associated Press reported that Conley describe the attacks as random incidents that occurred to women walking alone at night and were "violent, predatory."

"Anyone who does this half a dozen times is a very serious, violent, sexual predator," Conley said. "These were all very violent, predatory, stalking-type violent assaults."

Victims gave authorities a consistent description of Done, Conley said. According to the Boston Globe, victims in all of the previous cases described their assailants as a bald black man with a medium build in his mid-20s to mid-30s, around 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches.

"The real break in the case happened when state police criminalists, on their own, said: 'Let's run his profile through the database.' And sure enough, they got a hit," the district attorney said. The state police crime lab made the DNA connection on 13 July.

State Police Superintendent Colonel Richard McKeon said: "These cases have been worked tirelessly for the last nine years. We never forgot."

Done, who had no previous criminal record, was charged with rape in attacks occurring in July 2006 in South Boston and July 2007 on the Esplanade along the Charles River. According to the AP, charges are being prepared for the sexual assaults in June 2007 and July 2009 on the Esplanade and in June 2010 in South Boston.

No arraignment has been scheduled. However, the Boston Herald reported that Suffolk District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark said Done is expected to be arraigned later this week in Boston Municipal Court.

The former Uber driver pleaded not guilty in Middlesex County to kidnapping and raping a passenger he picked up in Boston heading towards Cambridge. According to authorities, Done drove to a location unknown to the victim, pulled over and raped her in the back seat. He was later identified by Cambridge police.

Uber told the AP that Done was not a driver for the company when the earlier Boston attacks occurred. Done has passed the company's criminal background check when he was hired, the AP noted.

"We are grateful that we were able to work closely with law enforcement to assist in their December 2014 investigation that has led to these additional charges," Uber said.