Seekonk man charged with attempted rape, allegedly assaulted Uber driver

A Seekonk man is facing several charges, including assault with intent to rape, after he allegedly assaulted an Uber driver during a ride.

James Oakes, 25, was arrested Sunday and is facing charges of strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, assault with intent to rape, assault and battery, unarmed robbery, intimidation of a witness, and interference with a ride share driver, WCVB reported.

At about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the area of County Street and Arrowhead Road for a report that a female Uber driver had been assaulted by a male passenger, Seekonk police told WCVB.

The Uber driver told police she picked up Oakes in North Seekonk to drive him to South Seekonk, but he asked to be dropped off at a different location when he got in the backseat.

When they arrived at the alternate destination, Oakes allegedly demanded that the driver back down a dark driveway. She refused to do so at first but eventually agreed to, WCVB reported.

Oakes allegedly assaulted the victim while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, wrapping his hands around her neck, according to WCVB.

“He did choke her at one point, and there is evidence of it being sexually motivated, so one of the charges is assault with intent to rape,” Seekonk Police Captain Matthew Jardine told WJAR.

The victim then allegedly drove down the road as Oakes assaulted her before the vehicle came to a stop on a front lawn. The driver honked the horn to get the residents’ attention as Oakes allegedly took her cell phone and fled the scene, according to WCVB.

Oakes was arraigned Monday in Taunton District Court and held pending a dangerousness hearing May 5, according to WCVB.