Westminster Teen Pegged as Groping Suspect in Huntington Beach Assaults

A 19-year-old Westminster man was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of groping women in Huntington Beach and Westminster.

Mathew Andrew Linville was arrested Wednesday at his home and booked on suspicion of intent to commit rape and sexual battery, Huntington Beach police Lt. Mitch O'Brien said.

Linville was being transferred Thursday morning from Huntington Beach's jail, where he was held on $100,000 bail, to Orange County jail.

Linville is accused of approaching the victims, groping their breasts or buttocks and then running away, O'Brien said.

Three of the alleged attacks happened Friday at the Bella Terra Mall in Huntington Beach, prompting police to assign plain-clothes officers to patrol the area, O'Brien said. Linville, who worked part-time at a store in the mall, resembled a composite sketch of a suspect that had been issued earlier this month, O'Brien said.

The sketch was released following an Aug. 28 attack of a jogger near Huntington Village Lane and Center Avenue. The suspect pushed the woman down from behind and ripped her shirt before she managed to get away, O'Brien said.

Investigators suspect Linville may have groped another woman in Westminster last Friday, O'Brien said.

Police suspect there may be more victims and asked anyone with information to call (714) 375-5066.

– City News Service.