UPDATE: Serial-Groping Suspect Arrested

A 21-year-old college student was arrested today on suspicion of carrying out a series of groping assaults on girls and women in the North County.

Detective took Zachary Alcantara of Oceanside into custody as he was leaving a class at MiraCosta College about 11:30 a.m., according to police.

At the time of his arrest in connection with at least three recent sexual-battery incidents, Alcantara was out on bail in connection with a similar alleged crime.

The suspect also is considered a potential suspect in five other groping incidents, Lt. Leonard Mata said.

Seven of the crimes occurred Tuesday -- three each in Oceanside and Encinitas, and one in Carlsbad, according to Mata. The other occurred in Oceanside on Saturday.

The victims' descriptions of the perpetrator and his actions suggested one man may be responsible for all of the assaults.

"In all (the) cases, the (assailant) approached women or juvenile females walking in public and groped them," the lieutenant said.

The similar alleged sex assault for which the suspect is awaiting trial was reported in Oceanside about two months ago, according to Mata.

Alcantara was expected to be booked this afternoon on three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, one count of committing a lewd act on a child and one count of felony false imprisonment, all in connection with the Oceanside assaults. Further charges could follow.

— City News Service