Alleged Trolley Harasser Bothered Teens, Arrested In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Criminal charges were filed Tuesday against a transient accused of grabbing and harassing a group of underage girls on the Laguna Beach trolley.

Kyle Albert Winton, a 39-year-old probationer, was charged with one felony count each of criminal threats and attempting to prevent a witness from reporting to authorities, as well as six counts of child annoyance and single counts of false imprisonment and battery, all misdemeanors.

The criminal complaint lists six minor girls as victims.

Police received a report Friday afternoon that a suspect was "trying to touch the girls on the trolley," said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jim Cota.

When the trolley stopped at Coast Highway and Nyes, where the girls tried to exit, Winton grabbed one of them by the hair and yanked it, Cota alleged.

Winton also allegedly blocked another girl from reaching the exit at the front of the trolley, prompting her to turn around and try to use the back exit, Cota said.

Winton was put on three years of formal probation after pleading guilty July 29 to a felony count of criminal threats and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 36 days in jail, or time already served since his arrest.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.