Uber driver charged with kidnapping and sexual assault in Waynesboro

WAYNESBORO — An Uber driver from Stuarts Draft remains in custody after he was accused of kidnapping and groping a woman earlier this month after picking her up for a ride.

Idan Abban, 64, is accused of kidnapping and sexual assault.

Court documents show that on July 12, a woman at Valley Community Services Board, located on Sangers Lane in Staunton, called Uber for a ride.

After being picked up by Abban, the woman was first taken to the Food Lion on Hopeman Parkway in Waynesboro, according to a search warrant affidavit, and then driven to her home. But police said Abban allegedly would not let her out of his vehicle.

Instead, she was reportedly taken to Abban’s Stuarts Draft residence, where he ordered her inside. Abban then attempted to kiss the woman, according to Waynesboro police, but she told him to stop and ordered him to take her back to the house. After they got back into the vehicle, Abban allegedly groped the woman in Waynesboro, police said.

Authorities filed a sworn affidavit with a search warrant in an attempt to obtain Abban’s Uber data and GPS locations.

Waynesboro police arrested Abban two days later, on July 14. He is being held without bail at the Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.

Abban, who is represented by the Staunton District Attorney’s Office, will have his initial hearing on Aug. 27 in Waynesboro District Court.

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Brad Zinn is the police, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Something that should be investigated? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at [email protected]. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).