One Year Ago Today (November 8, 2023)...Man Convicted of Groping Woman in Irvine

One Year Ago Today (November 8, 2023)...A 23-year-old Beaumont man was convicted of groping a woman in Irvine.

Brandon Dybdahl was convicted of false imprisonment and sexual battery, both misdemeanors. He was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 20 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

A 57-year-old woman told authorities she was taking a walk through a residential and business neighborhood in Irvine just before 3 p.m. June 10, according to prosecutors.

Dybdahl, who was driving by, parked and started following the victim, prosecutors said. At some point the defendant ran up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, groping her breasts, prosecutors said.

When the victim screamed the defendant let go and ran off, prosecutors said.

Surveillance video caught the attack and police released it publicly to help catch a suspect, prosecutors said.

Authorities used cell phone records to locate the defendant, prosecutors said.

Dybdahl was arrested a few days later in Laguna Hills in connection with the attack, which occurred near Graduate and Scholarship, according to the Irvine Police Department. A white sedan that was also spotted in the surveillance video of the attack was found in his possession when he was arrested, police said.

Dybdahl is a transient and was "couch surfing" with family friends, who were trying to "help him out," but did not know about the attack, Sgt. Karie Davies said.