OAKLAND — What started as a normal Saturday night at the bars for two local friends ended with one of them being attacked in the early morning, allegedly by a man who offered to give the group rides home.

Now, a 20-year-old named Yakob Abbadura is in jail, charged with kidnapping, attempted rape, false imprisonment, assault and second-degree robbery. All the charges stem from Abbadura allegedly trying to force himself on the woman after she told him “no” several times inside his vehicle. Police say she was not raped simply because she fought back during the sexual assault and suffered multiple injuries in the process.

The alleged victim was out at Oakland bars with a friend on the night of Oct. 26 when police say she bumped into Abbadura and his friend. The four stayed out for hours that night, going to several bars and engaging in pleasant conversation. When the night was over, Abbadura reportedly offered to give them all rides home.

He seemed quite nice all evening, the woman would later tell the police. But after dropping off the other two passengers, his demeanor changed. He told her he wanted to kiss her and put his hand on her thigh, and she began to have a deep sense that things were about to take a dark turn, according to police.

When he parked near her home, she tried to get out of the vehicle but found the doors locked and trapped inside, she later told police. Then Abbadura said to him, “I will get what I want.”

He groped her, forcibly touched her private parts and attempted to rape her during the ensuing struggle. She was able to fight him off and get out of the car, authorities said, but suffered cuts and bruises all over her body during the incident.

As they struggled, Abbadura managed to steal her necklace and purse, leading to the robbery charge, prosecutors say. Police identified Abbadura as a suspect in part because he gave the alleged victim’s friend his Instagram handle earlier in the evening.

Abbadura has pleaded not guilty and is being held in lieu of $720,000 bail. He is due in court on Tuesday.

Originally published: Nov 25, 2024 at 12:53pm PST