Bristol County man sentenced in Fall River court on some charges, found not guilty on others, concerning violent incident involving female ride share driver

A Bristol County man was convicted by a jury in Fall River Superior Court Monday after facing a handful of charges involving a ride share driver.

According to Seekonk Police, on April 26th, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., multiple patrol units were dispatched to the area of County Street and Arrowhead Road for the report of a possible motor vehicle crash.

When units arrived, they observed a vehicle across the lawn of a residential property. They then made contact with the female operator. The operator, an Uber driver, stated that she was just assaulted by a male passenger who had fled the scene. The victim then relayed that she made a pick-up from North Seekonk with a destination in South Seekonk. A lone male entered her vehicle from the pick-up address. While enroute to the original destination, the male passenger then provided a different destination address. When they arrived at the alternate destination, the suspect demanded the victim back down a long, unlit driveway. At first, the driver refused but ultimately agreed to do so. While in the driveway, the suspect began to allegedly assault the victim. The victim was able to place her vehicle in drive and took off
down the road while the assault continued. When the vehicle came to rest on a front lawn, the suspect allegedly stole the victim’s cell phone and fled the vehicle. The victim then began to honk the car horn, hoping to raise a resident for assistance. A resident did respond to the commotion and subsequently contacted police.

An investigation was conducted by the Seekonk Police Detective Division. At the conclusion of the investigation, an arrest warrant was sought and issued. The arrest warrant was executed, and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

25-year-old James D. Oakes of Seekonk was charged with Strangulation or Suffocation, Kidnapping, Assault with Intent to Rape, Assault and Battery on 60+/Disabled with Injury, Unarmed Robbery 60+, Intimidation of a Witness, and Interfere with Ride Share Driver.

According to court records, Oakes was found not guilty Monday of Strangulation or Suffocation, Kidnapping, Intimidation of a Witness, and Assault with Intent to Rape. He was found guilty of Assault and Battery on 60+/Disabled, Larceny from a Person, and Interfering with a Ride Share/Bus Driver. He was sentenced to not less than 3 years to not more than 4 1/2 years with credit for 163 days already served. 3 years of probation was also issued.