LUBBOCK, Texas (CN) - A van driver sexually assaulted three women, one by one, while driving them to and from medical appointments, the woman claim in court.
The women sued South Plains Community Action Association dba Spartan Transportation and the driver, Trinidad Arriola Zamora, in Lubbock County Court.
In the complaint, one woman claims Arriola "raped" her. One claims he "sexually violated and sexually abused" her. The third claims he groped her and put her "in great fear" of more sexual assaults for 4 to 5 months.
Plaintiff Mildred Shepherd claims that on the way back from her Nov. 14, 2011 appointment, Arriola propositioned her for sex when he pulled into a rest stop "and said he needed him 'a black woman.'"
The complaint continues: "When plaintiff refused, defendant Zamora got up out of his seat and went back toward her. At this time, defendant Zamora sexually assaulted, sexually violated and sexually abused (making contact with both her breast and her vagina with his hand) plaintiff Shepherd, who was unable to escape or repel defendant's unwanted physical advances. After the assault, defendant Zamora threatened plaintiff to not tell anyone and told her that he feared losing his job with Spartan." (Parentheses in complaint.)
Plaintiff Virginia Hernandez claims that on the way to her medical appointment on July 1, 2011 Arriola "pulled off the highway onto a country road, stopped Spartan's bus somewhere between Littlefield and Amherst, Texas and propositioned (her) for sex."
The complaint continues: "When plaintiff refused, defendant Zamora got up out of his seat and went back toward her. At this time, defendant Zamora sexually assaulted, sexually violated, sexually abused and raped plaintiff Hernandez, who was paralyzed with fear and anguish and unable to escape or repel defendant's unwanted advances. After the assault, defendant Zamora told plaintiff Hernandez that 'once everyone was out of the bus' in the future, he would take her to a 'country road and do it.'"
Plaintiff Felicita Gonzales claims that Arriola Zamora made "lewd comments" and unwanted advances while sitting with her in the waiting area of Redbud Dialysis Center on July 18, 2011.
There, he "spoke nasty comments to her and stroked her upped thigh with his hand near her private parts. She was unable to repel him. When back on the bus, defendant told her that he 'liked her lips' and that she needed to 'leave the door unlocked,' so he could come over. These actions placed Gonzales in great fear and danger of future sexual assaults. The lewd comments to her on the bus occurred many times during a 4-5 month time frame," according to the complaint.
The women say they "suffered from severe emotional distress and anxiety for what they were forced to endure with respect to defendant's Zamora's sexual assaults and lewd behavior and comments. Plaintiffs' pain, suffering, fear and severe emotional distress continues to this very day. They have been forced to relive their nightmares on numerous other occasions by having to speak with various counselors, clergy, and law enforcement officials."
They seek punitive damages for negligence and gross negligence.
They are represented by Stace Williams of Lubbock.
(Although the complaint refers to the defendant as Zamora, the matronym, his last name would commonly be Arriola, the patronym.)
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