The brother of Massachusetts' top prosecutor will stand trial today, accused of sexually assaulting nine women while pretending to be a rideshare driver. Alvin Campbell Jr, 45, arrived at court on Monday after pleading not guilty to charges of rape, kidnapping, and indecent assault and battery. He is accused of posing as a ride-share driver between 2017 and 2019. His sister is Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
Opening Statements Detail Predatory Scheme
During opening statements on Monday morning, Prosecutor Murphy said, 'Night after night, Alvin Campbell drove his car into downtown Boston, late at night, when the bars were winding down and he looked for targets... young women who had too much to drink, who would actually believe he was a ride-share driver.' According to Murphy, Campbell is accused of raping six women and assaulting a seventh, and even filming the acts 'to save for later, as mementos.'
Prosecutors alleged that Campbell, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, would drive to popular Boston venues at night and, impersonating an Uber driver, would offer women rides home before attacking them. 'He was targeting them for sexual assault. He was looking for women he could exploit... In most cases these were women who had little or no memory of who he was or what he had done,' Murphy said during opening statements.
Campbell in Custody Since 2020
Campbell has been in custody since his initial arrest by the Boston Police Department in January 2020. Just last month, Campbell filed a motion to dismiss the case on claims that he had not been given the right to a speedy trial, as reported by WCVB.
Sister's Statement
His sister, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, said in a statement last week before her brother's court proceedings began that she was praying for the survivors and 'all those affected.' 'It takes extraordinary courage to come forward, and they deserve dignity and respect,' she wrote on BlueSky. 'This is an incredibly difficult situation for everyone involved, and I carry that weight with me, including in my prayers for my brother. The case is now before the court, and I respect the judicial process as it moves forward.'
The December 2019 Attack That Led to Arrest
The alleged attack that would identify Campbell as a suspect occurred on the night of December 6, 2019, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Police say Campbell pretended to be a ride-sharing driver and picked up the victim outside The Harp bar in downtown Boston, after the real Uber she had ordered through her phone app had inexplicably left. The woman, who was intoxicated, got into Campbell's black SUV with the expectation of being taken home. She is said to have passed out in the backseat during the commute.
Prosecutors said after sexually assaulting her inside the vehicle, Campbell drove her to his apartment in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and raped her. He also allegedly videotaped the assaults. The woman woke up hours later inside the bogus Uber driver's home suffering from pain in her groin and an injury to her chest.
Evidence from Phone and DNA
When police executed a search warrant and went through the contents of Campbell's phone, they allegedly found videos showing him groping and raping the woman in his car. 'The clips showed her both clothed and naked. Campbell addressed her by name and commented crudely about her body.' He said at one point, 'Raise your eyebrow if you're all right,' and later 'Do you want to go upstairs to your house or come to my house?' according to documents obtained by Boston Herald. A DNA test comparing a swab from the victim's rape kit and a sample from Campbell produced a match, the prosecutors said. A search of the suspect's car and home allegedly yielded a luggage tag bearing the victim's name.
Indictment and Additional Charges
Campbell was indicted in 2020 on charges of sexually assaulting eight women from 2017 to 2019. The number of claims since rose to nine. Most of the offences involve allegations he posed as a rideshare driver, as the Suffolk County District Attorney described each claim as 'chillingly similar.' Investigators obtained a search warrant to access his cellphone's cloud storage, where they found video related to the most recent charges including one timestamped at 5:42am, the Boston Globe reports.
Prosecutor Calls for Vigilance
In a statement, Suffolk DA Rollins called on people out enjoying the warmer weather to be vigilant for 'questionable or predatory behavior.' 'Women have every right to partake in and enjoy an evening out, to drink and to have fun without risk or fear of being harassed, violated or harmed,' she said in a statement to the Boston Herald. 'Men need to start speaking to their sons, their brothers and colleagues about the new vision of masculinity and working to end violence against women and girls.'
Campbell's sister, Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell, has previously said she is 'extremely heartbroken and saddened and devastated by these allegations' and she is 'thinking about the victim who had the courage to come forward.'
