Truck Driver jailed for Sexually Assaulting 3 Prostitutes

Anmol Prasad, aged 35, of California, was jailed for 15 years for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting three prostitutes while working as a truck driver.

He had picked up the women while working a multi-state route then demanded sex and terrorised them.

Prasad committed the offences between 2015 and 2016. Investigators believe there may be more victims in Washington, Oregon and California.

The first incident took place in Oakland, California, in 2015.

A 19-year-old sex worker was picked up by Prasad and they drove to a bank where Prasad withdrew $300 to pay her with.

After giving her the money, he pulled out a knife and held it to her throat. Prasad proceeded to steal the $300 he gave her as well as $40 she already had. Prasad then drove off.

It is unclear if he sexually assaulted her but the woman suffered a cut to her left hand after putting it up to defend herself.

Ten days later, another 19-year-old was contacted by the truck driver and he picked her up from a petrol station in Oakland.

He offered to drive her to Castro Valley and she accepted, however, Prasad drove to a dead-end street.

Prasad then pulled out a knife, held it to the victim’s throat and demanded that she perform oral sex on him. Fearing for her life, she complied with his demands.

Afterwards, Prasad drove the victim to Richmond. At around the same time, a witness saw the victim being held in the vehicle and alerted the police.

Police tracked down the truck to a petrol station. As the vehicle came to a stop, the victim ran out screaming that Prasad had a knife.

Officers searched the truck and found the weapon.

Prasad was arrested but prosecutors declined to take the case forward and he was released.

On May 2, 2016, Prasad contacted a 20-year-old woman who had posted an online advert for prostitution.

The pair arranged to meet in Fremont. Once the victim arrived, she entered Prasad’s vehicle and they began to negotiate the sex act.

However, Prasad became aggressive and prevented the woman from leaving his vehicle. It was reported that he started hitting her with a tyre iron.

The victim started screaming which caused Prasad to stop his attack. He then locked the doors and drove off.

The victim managed to escape through the slider door while the truck was travelling at 40 mph.

She suffered injuries to her feet, knees, hands, hips, chest and abdomen and was treated at a medical trauma centre.

An investigation led to the discovery of the tyre iron and documents which belonged to the third victim. Prasad’s wife was interviewed and she said her husband was a long-haul truck driver who worked “all over the country”.

When questioned, Prasad denied all accusations.

He stated that he had been married to his wife since 2013 and had never had sex with another woman other than his wife since that time.

Prasad was remanded in custody. When he heard about his additional felony warrant out of Washington for rape. Upon hearing this, Prasad said: “I’ve never even been to Washington.”

The truck driver was charged with kidnapping for the purposes of sexual assault, assault with intent to commit sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and committing a felony offence while on bail.

Prasad was also booked for the outstanding Washington state felony rape warrant.

While in custody, Prasad complained of chest pain. He was taken to Washington Hospital. Once at the hospital, he told nurses that he needed to use the bathroom.

He was escorted by a police officer. But when the officer tried to re-handcuff him, Prasad punched the officer multiple times.

Prasad also began hitting a Detention officer.

During the struggle, Prasad tried to stab the police officer using a pen that was on a nurse’s desk.

Doctors and nurses tried to help. The officer managed to push Prasad off him and he used his Taser, however, it did not stop Prasad who continued to fight with the officer, attempting to grab his firearm.

During the fight, the Taser was knocked out of the officer’s hand. A nurse handed the Taser back to the officer. Prasad then complied and was handcuffed.

Both the police officer and the Detention officer suffered injuries during the fight.

Prasad pleaded guilty to two counts of assault to commit mayhem, rape, sodomy or oral copulation and one count of forced sexual assault.

He was jailed for 15 years, but because he has already spent four years in prison, he now only has to serve eight years before he is eligible for parole.