Former Tulsa Uber Driver Accused Of Raping Customer Found Not Guilty

A jury has found a former Uber driver not guilty of rape, after being accused by one of his passengers who hired him for a ride.

Related Story: Trial Underway For Former Uber Driver Accused Of Raping Customer 

The incident happened back in May 2017 when Knight picked up a woman who hired him for a ride. Knight testified the woman told him she wanted to "go anywhere but home," so he drove her around town and eventually the two went to a couple of downtown bars together. 

Knight said the woman was fully functioning, and eventually agreed to go back to his house with him. He told the jury the woman jumped into his bed and asked him to join her so he did, and they had sex.

"She was engaged in consensual behavior by all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the case," Knight's attorney, Shannon McMurray, said. "That is not a crime."

The woman testified that she was taking several prescription medications that don't mix well with alcohol. She told the jury she'd had around 10 drinks that night, and doesn't remember much.

She said the first thing she remembered was waking up naked, with Knight on top of her.

McMurray said having sex while intoxicated is not illegal, but she thinks both the woman and her client have learned a valuable lesson.

"These two people both probably made poor decisions at the end of the day, but that's not a crime," she said.

Kenneth Elmore, Director of the Special Victims Unit at the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office, issued the following statement:

"While we respect the jury trial process and their decision, we disagree with their conclusion. It is never an easy process for a victim to come forward, report the crime, and testify. We commend her bravery in this matter. The Tulsa County District Attorney’s office will continue to fight for victims of sexual assault and pursue truth and justice in all cases."