Ex-Con Molests Girl On Greyhound Bus Traveling Through RivCo: CHP

BANNING, CA — A 49-year-old man was arrested on Memorial Day after he molested a 16-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus as it was passing through the San Gorgonio Pass area via Interstate 10, the California Highway Patrol reported Tuesday.

Eric Prindle, who is an ex-con, was booked into the Banning jail on suspicion of annoying a minor and for being under the influence of methamphetamine. He posted bail within a few hours and was released.

The incident involved a teen girl who was traveling by herself Monday on her way home to the Los Angeles area from the Comic Con convention in Phoenix, according to CHP Officer Darren Meyer. She had seated herself in the back of the bus and was sleeping.

As the coach transited the San Gorgonio Pass, the convicted felon got up from his seat a few rows ahead of the young girl and situated himself in an empty seat directly adjacent to the minor, Meyer said.

"During the early morning hours, Prindle moved to the back of the bus and sat in an empty seat next to the girl," Meyer said in a news release. "Prindle harassed and annoyed the victim inappropriately for approximately an hour until she was able to discretely send a text message to a family member for help."

Meyer said Beaumont-based CHP units caught up with the bus as it entered Fontana via westbound Interstate 10, where it was stopped and officers came on board.

Prindle was questioned and taken into custody without a struggle on the spot, Meyer said. The victim was reunited with family.

An investigation revealed the suspect was on parole after serving time for assault with a deadly weapon, according to Meyer.

— City News Service contributed to this report