A Boulder jury acquitted Tigistu Ergo on all counts after he was charged in a 2018 sexual assault on a passenger.
BOULDER, Colo. — A jury discovered a Lyft driver not responsible final week on all fees associated to the 2018 sexual assault of a passenger, in accordance with court docket data.
Tigistu Ergo, 29, was acquitted in Boulder District Courtroom on fees of second-degree kidnapping and sexual assault from an incident within the early morning hours of Aug. 8, 2018, data present.
His attorneys, with Krizman Legislation, mentioned that Ergo maintained his innocence from Day One and that he testified in his protection at his trial, in accordance with a information launch.
“Mr. Ergo is relieved past phrases that this ordeal is over,” his attorneys mentioned within the launch. “He’s additionally grateful to the members of the Boulder group who had been prepared to seek for and see the reality. He asks for peace and privateness as he continues to heal from the trauma of being falsely accused.”
His accuser informed Boulder Police that she had been consuming with buddies in downtown Denver and {that a} Lyft driver had picked her up at a bar.
She informed police that the motive force “solicited her” for intercourse however was not sure whether or not any sexual contact occurred earlier than the motive force dropped her off at her boyfriend’s condo in Boulder. She additionally mentioned her telephone, pockets and keys had been lacking.
Ergo “appeared shocked” when police informed him the girl had reported “some kind of sexual interplay” and responded with, “I’ve a girlfriend.” He thought police had been contacting him as a result of the girl had misplaced her telephone, in accordance with the affidavit within the case.
A trip log that Lyft offered to Boulder Police confirmed that Ergo picked up the girl round 10:17 p.m. Aug. 7, 2018, and the trip lasted about half-hour and led to Denver, in accordance with the affidavit.
Ergo didn’t decide up one other passenger till 1:08 a.m. on Aug. 8, and that was his final trip till noon on Aug. 8, in accordance with the affidavit.
There was no documentation that Ergo traveled to Boulder, though the sufferer’s boyfriend mentioned she was dropped off in a automobile that matches the outline of Ergo’s automobile, the affidavit says.
This story accommodates earlier reporting by 9News reporter Janet Oravetz.
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