Palatine cabdriver charged with sexual assault

A Palatine cabdriver was ordered held on $2.5 million bail Thursday on charges he sexually assaulted a female passenger he picked up last July from a bar.

Muhammad Mahmood, 39, was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping, felonies that are punishable by 12 to 60 years in prison.

Mahmood picked up an intoxicated, 25-year-old woman at a Palatine bar about 12:30 a.m. July 23, 2016. Soon after, Mahmood forced her into the back seat and sexually assaulted her before leaving her in the parking lot, police said. She called her sister, who called 911, and the friend who had helped her into the cab.

On March 15, authorities matched DNA found on the woman to Mahmood's DNA, authorities said.

which he was required to submit after he was convicted in 2016 of aggravated battery in Lake County, McGee said.

On the way to her house, Mahmood asked the woman if she played the mobile phone game Pokemon Go, McGee said. After she replied "yes," Mahmood told her he knew a good PokeStop and drove her to Volkening Lake in Schaumburg, where she got into the front seat and began playing the game, McGee said.

Soon after, Mahmood forced her into the back seat and sexually assaulted her before leaving her in the parking lot, McGee said. She called her sister, who called 911, and the friend who helped her into the cab.

On March 15, authorities matched DNA found on the woman to Mahmood's DNA, which he was required to submit after he was convicted in 2016 of aggravated battery in Lake County, McGee said.

The victim in that case was a passenger Mahmood picked up outside a Lake Zurich bar, McGee said.

Mahmood was arrested on the current charges Tuesday, McGee said.

Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo ordered Mahmood have not contact with the woman and ordered him to surrender his Firearm Owners' Identification card, any firearms he possesses and his passport.