Press Release

(Woodland, CA) - February 6, 2026 - On February 5, 2026, 46-year-old Carmichael man, Safiullah Miakhil, was convicted by a Yolo County jury of two counts of sexual battery. The offense occurred after midnight on November 1, 2023, when the victim received an Uber ride after a Halloween party that she had attended in Davis earlier that evening. Once they had arrived at the victim's home, Miakhil, the Uber driver, got into the back seat with the victim. He proceeded to grope, kiss and fondle her against her will. Eventually, he let her go and she reported the incident to the police immediately.

The trial took place before Judge Catherine R. Hohenwarter and was prosecuted by Stefanie DeCillis, a Deputy District Attorney with the Yolo County District Attorney's Office. Miakhil faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.

Deputy District Attorney Stefanie DeCillis stated, "The young woman who was victimized in this case demonstrated immeasurable courage and tenacity, from the time of the assault in 2023, while the case took its course through the criminal court system, and especially in testifying at trial about such a traumatic event. I am very thankful to the jury who made the right decision and treated this case with the gravity it deserved. This outcome signals that sexual assault cases, especially against those in vulnerable positions, will be treated with the utmost seriousness in Yolo County." District Attorney Jeff Reisig also praised the victim's courage and stated, "The jury's conviction is an affirmation to the courageous young victim in this case and a warning to the depraved who dare to think that they will get away with such perverse misconduct. We urge all riders to use caution when utilizing ride-sharing services and report any and all misconduct by drivers to authorities."

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