A Palm Beach County man accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman he met through the dating app Hinge now faces criminal charges as authorities warn there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

Dating App Encounter Turns Violent

Stephen Hakim, 27, of Delray Beach was arrested and charged with sexual assault on July 8 after deputies matched his DNA to specimens collected from the victim at a Florida hospital. The woman reported meeting Hakim on Hinge in February, and after exchanging messages for about an hour, they agreed to meet the same evening for what she believed would be a casual conversation at a bar.

Instead, Hakim drove her to his apartment in his black Tesla at speeds reaching 90 to 100 miles per hour, according to court documents. The victim told deputies they drank beer and talked before Hakim offered to give her a massage. She suddenly became extremely tired and unable to move before the alleged assault occurred. Toxicology testing later revealed multiple sleeping drugs in her blood and urine that she had not knowingly taken.

Suspect Released on Bond Despite Evidence

Despite the DNA match and toxicology results, Hakim was released the next day on $25,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney issued a statement denying that his client’s actions were non-consensual, though the firm did not respond to additional requests for comment. The victim reported that after the assault, when she told Hakim he had raped her, he engaged in what she described as gaslighting behavior by asking what she was talking about.

Growing Danger on Dating Platforms

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made a public request on July 14 asking any other women who may have had similar encounters with Hakim to come forward. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, only about one in three sexual assault victims report the crime to law enforcement. Women ages 18 to 24 face the highest risk of sexual assault among all age groups, with one in six American women experiencing attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

Safety experts warn that perpetrators increasingly use dating platforms to target victims. Red flags include profiles lacking detail or social media links, matches who quickly push to move conversations off the app, and requests for personal contact information that could be used to locate victims. A 2023 Pew Research report found that 53 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 have used dating apps, making awareness of these dangers increasingly critical.