$1M bond for Oxford taxi owner accused of raping 2 Miami U. students

Bond has been set at $1 million for an Oxford man accused of raping two Miami University students in his vehicle that serves as a taxi service.

Sherman Jackson II, the owner and operator of Sherman’s Safe Ride, was video arraigned Tuesday on two counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday in Butler County Area I Court.

FIRST REPORT: Taxi operator accused of assaulting Miami University students

Two females filed separate reports with police accusing Jackson, 38, of the 5200 block of College Corner Pike, of sexually assaulting them in his vehicle, according to Oxford police. The incidents were reported on Friday and Saturday.

The first alleged victim called 911 at about 12:35 a.m. Friday from West Collins Street and reported she had been assaulted, according to the police report.

The second incident was reported by a female who said she was assaulted between 1:30 and 4 a.m. Saturday on Brown Road, according to the report.

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The first woman called 911 three times early Friday, once screaming, “Let me out, let me out” and then hanging up.

Dispatchers called the woman back and were able to determine she was at the McDonald’s on South Locust Street.

“He was supposed to drop me off at home,” the woman sobbed in the call. “As soon as I got in the cab, he said he was going to take me to McDonald’s. I said, ‘No I want to go home.’ ”

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Jackson approached officers on Saturday when they were impounding his 2001 Chevrolet Suburban and he agreed to talk with them, according to the report. After the interview, he was booked in the Butler County Jail.

As part of the city’s taxi permit process, Oxford Police Lt. Lara Fening said Jackson underwent a background check and passed.

She said Jackson is a local resident and that she has known him since he was a teenager.

Jackson was convicted for disorderly conduct in 2010, a traffic violation and five civil cases.

The Oxford Police department asks anyone who has additional information about the incidents to call the police tip line at 513-524-5268 or CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040.

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