Sex offender tells FOX25 he had active account as Uber driver

BEDFORD, Mass. — A Level 2 sex offender – convicted of rape of a child with force – was a driver for Uber until FOX25 investigates began questioning the app-driven ride sharing company.

This is the second time FOX25 Investigates has found a registered sex offender driving for Uber. In June, FOX25 reported State Police at Logan Airport stopped an Uber driver – who also turned out to be a Level 2 sex offender.

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Stephen C. Tremblay, 66, was wearing an Uber T-shirt when FOX25 Investigates found him at his Bedford home. He didn’t want to speak on camera, but said he hasn’t driven a customer in months – even though his account was still active.

Tremblay also admitted he didn’t disclose he’s a Level 2 sex offender when applying for the job with Uber.

Uber said in a statement the company has banned Tremblay from the app and is investigating the matter.

Uber said it didn’t have access to Tremblay’s rape conviction because the crime was more than 20 years old and his record was “digitized,” but FOX25 had no problem finding the public record showing the 1993 conviction.

Tremblay told FOX25 Investigates he “made a mistake.” State records show he had no driving infractions over the last 20 years.

The gaps in Uber’s background check comes as Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new law giving the state the power to do its own criminal background checks on drivers for ride-hailing companies. It’s not clear when that process will be up and running.

Uber told FOX25, other companies that use “consumer reporting agencies” to check criminal backgrounds would have also missed a 20 year-old conviction for a sex-offense.

Cox Media Group