District Attorney Brian Mason of Adams and Broomfield Counties has filed a felony charge against a man accused of sexually assaulting a state lawmaker last year while posing as a rideshare driver. 

Mukhammadali Mukadyrov, 42, has been charged with one count of unlawful sexual contact, a Class 4 felony, which carries a potential prison sentence of two to six years. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. 

Mukadyrov allegedly sexually assaulted Rep. Jenny Willford of Northglenn in February of 2024 while posing as a Lyft driver by using someone else’s account.

Willford has been open about her experience and successfully passed bills this session to tackle the state’s rape kit backlog and rideshare companies’ safety measures. Willford filed a lawsuit against Lyft in February, alleging she was “subjected to unwelcome, nonconsensual sexual contact, touching, and (lewd) comments” during a ride from Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood to her home. 

In March, Willford told a legislative committee that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have a “severe and pervasive safety issue.”

“They are in crisis, whether they want to admit it or not,” she said. 

Uber has been a defendant in a number of lawsuits by riders who claimed they were sexually assaulted by a driver. A consolidated case in California District Court currently has over 1,400 plaintiffs from 29 states and is expected to gain even more before going to trial in December.

On its website, Lyft’s said the company “prioritizes safety for all users and implements several measures to ensure a secure experience” including annual background checks, mandatory driver safety education, and a 24/7 safety team.