Ex-Gymnastics Coach Sentenced In Prairie Path Attacks

WINFIELD, IL — A Winfield man convicted of attacking two women on Prairie Path has been sentenced to three years in prison. Matthew Grover, 32, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday for two counts of aggravated battery for grabbing two separate women on Illinois Prairie Path between September 2016 and April 2017.

Grover was arrested in April 2017 after police released a sketch of a man who grabbed a woman from behind as she walked along Illinois Prairie Path in unincorporated Wheaton on April 24. After his arrest, Grover admitted to another attack on Illinois Prairie Path that took place in the fall of 2016.

At the hearing, Grover's victims were present, along with a 16-year-old girl who said Grover once "lunged at her," Chicago Tribune reports. One woman said she was still afraid to go running outside long after the attack.

"Ironically, she said, at the time she had recently moved to Chicago from the Wheaton area, but had returned to run on the path because she felt safe there," Chicago Tribune reports.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a release Friday, "DuPage County has one of the most beautiful public trail systems in the country enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Mr. Grover however, took advantage of this natural asset to physically attack women."

Grover must serve 50% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

>>Related: Gymnastics Coach Confessed To Prairie Path Attack

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