An Augusta man is already free on bond after being arrested last week on indictments for aggravated sexual battery on a drunk Uber passenger in 2020.
The 30-year-old woman told authorities she was just trying to get home safely from the Ramada Inn on Broad Street at 2 a.m. But Uber driver Mallory Millender Jr. pulled his car over in a dark parking lot, according to a sheriff’s report.
The woman said he helped her from the back seat to the front and proposed sexual acts, which she dismissed.
“She stated that she was unaware of what was going on due to her level of intoxication,” the report says.
After her refusal, Millender began to drive again. She said the driver then pulled over into the Family Dollar on Deans Bridge Road and pulled to the side of the building.
“She stated that he became more aggressive,” suggesting anal sex. He also asked her to touch him.
He proceeded to grope her, the report continues.
“She pleaded with him to stop the entire time and that she just wanted to get home safely,” the report says. “She pleaded that she would call the cops but he would not stop. He only continued to suggest sexual acts and that it would be their secret and no one would have to know.”
Millender got back on the road while continuing to touch her. They arrived at her home at 2:30 a.m., and he assisted her to her house while continuing to pressure her to have sex with him.
“She told him she was calling law enforcement and that this time, he got scared and left,” the report says.
The suspect was identified through the woman’s receipt from the Uber app on her phone. Millender was arrested that day for sexual battery and quickly released on bond the same day.
After much delay, a grand jury heard the evidence in May 2022 and indicted him for aggravated sexual battery and sexual battery. That led to his re-arrest last week. He was released two days later. He faces 25 years to life imprisonment if convicted.
A Facebook page for Millender says he works as an “English Teacher at Richmond County School System.” But a school district spokeswoman says he has not been employed with the district since 2018.
Why was Millinder granted bond so easily?
“In this case, Mr. Millender was released on bond based on the original warrant back in November 2020. We upgraded the charge against him from a misdemeanor to a felony … but there were no new facts that would justify revoking his bond after he had already been on bond without incident for over a year. We increased the amount of his bond, added certain conditions he must follow, and the judge signed it,” District Attorney Jared Williams said.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
