February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Patrick Markey
A livery cab driver accused of sexually assaulting two Irish immigrants in the back of his taxi cannot stand trial because a psychiatrist judged he is unable to understand the charges leveled against him.
A court-appointed psychiatrist has evaluated Jamie Oliveira, who was arrested two months ago, and found him incapable of understanding the criminal proceedings for the moment, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
Oliveira has been charged with rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment.
Prosecutors said Oliveira would be held in custody until tests showed he was able to stand trial or his attorney entered a plea of insanity to the judge.
Oliveira was arrested on Aug. 22 after undercover detectives spotted him cruising in his car around the Woodside area where a series of attacks on Irish women had taken place.
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A search of his vehicle uncovered a summons, which police linked to another vehicle that a victim had identified through a partial reading from a license plate. The two victims have also identified Oliveira through photo lineups, police said.
The arrest capped a two-year investigation into a series of sexually assaults in the neighborhood. Detectives said they believe another suspect in four other assaults, livery cab driver Cesar Vicuna, has fled to Colombia.