Attacked Uber Driver Says He Will Leave California Due To Trauma
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Edward Caban, the Uber drover who was shown being attacked by a passenger on a YouTube video that went viral last week, says he will leave California.
Edward Caban's attorney said his client is too distraught to remain in the state.
"The trauma of the assault has affected his ability to sleep at night and focus on tasks during the day," lawyer Rivers Morrell III said. "Mr. Caban has sought the assistance of professional counselors and has decided to remove himself and relocate to a place where there is greater support from friends and family."
The announcement he was leaving the state came a day after Caban, 23, told CBS2 and KCAL9 that he would not accept Ben Golden's apology.
"I don't believe he is genuinely remorseful for his actions," Caban said. "Mr. Golden made the choices that led him to the back of my car, and he made the choice to assault me when I declared the ride to be over. If I had not recorded the attack on my dash cam I do not believe he would be taking the same position he seems to be taking today."
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Morrell said that, "Mr. Golden's attorney and advisers may wish to walk all this back, but that isn't going to happen. My client has suffered physically and emotionally from this attack. He is having trouble sleeping, and rests with a weapon next to his bed. He has quit his work as an Uber driver."
Golden's attorney, Courtney Pilchman, said Wednesday that she was trying to arrange a meeting between the two so Golden could apologize to Caban personally.
That meeting appears unlikely, at best.
"He does not accept Mr. Golden's apology and has no desire or intention to meet with him to discuss it," Morrell said.
Golden, 32, who worked in the marketing department of Taco Bell until he lost his job Monday, publicly apologized to Caban Wednesday.
Golden told KCAL9 in an exclusive interview that he is sincerely sorry and is now seeking counseling. Golden said he doesn't remember any of what happened, but acknowledges what he did.
"I want to apologize. I wasn't in the right state," he said. "I'd like him to know that that's not me and that I'm sincerely sorry."
Pilchman said her client doesn't have a drinking problem, despite a prior arrest for drunken driving in Kentucky a few years ago. In fact, he called for a ride to be responsible because he was going to drink and celebrate Halloween, she said.
Golden also said he did not believe he had a drinking problem although he also says he blacked out more of the evening.
"He's not a big drinker, and so I guess he went out for Halloween festivities and he knew he was going to be drinking," Pilchman said. "But he doesn't have a consistent drinking pattern or habit. He's a social drinker who doesn't go out very often."
Golden only remembers being arrested, Pilchman said.
"The only sort of recollection that he has is getting arrested, but he did watch the video and he was appalled at the behavior and did not recognize the behavior," she said.
He faces up to a year in jail or a $10,000 fine if convicted.