DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced last week that a Winfield man charged with attacking two women on separate occasions on the Illinois Prairie Path had been sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Matthew Grover, 32, of 26W603 Lindsey, appeared in Court, where he entered a plea of guilty to two counts of Aggravated Battery (Class 3 Felony) in front of Judge Brian Telander, who handed down the sentence. On April 26, 2017, Grover appeared in bond court where bond was set at $200,000 with 10% to apply. He has remained in custody since that time.
On April 24, 2017, at approximately 4 p.m., authorities received a call that a woman had been attacked on the Illinois Prairie Path. In the attack, the man approached the woman from behind and put her in a “bear hug.” The attacker released the woman and fled when joggers approached from the opposite direction. An investigation into the attack uncovered a very similar incident near the same location on the Prairie Path that occurred in late September or early October 2016. The investigation into the two attacks ultimately led authorities to Grover.
“DuPage County has one of the most beautiful public trail systems in the country enjoyed by thousands of people every year,” Berlin said. “Mr. Grover however, took advantage of this natural asset to physically attack women.”
Grover will be required to serve 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
