Arrested 29-year-old Burnaby groping suspect commits further sexual assaults after release on conditions

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      Despite being arrested for alleged sexual assaults, a Burnaby man has failed to learn to keep his hands to himself as he continued to commit more assaults against females after being released on conditions.

      According to Burnaby RCMP, a six-month investigation commenced on April 12 when police received a report that a man had groped a female teenager from behind on Hastings Street in North Burnaby.

      The victim alleged that a man had run up to her, grabbed her buttocks, and attempted to talk with her before he fled.

      Officers gathered surveillance footage from the area and isolated images of the male suspect.

      Then on May 8, RCMP received a report about a similar incident involving another female teenager on Willingdon Avenue in North Burnaby.

      The victim told police that as she was walking, a man approached her from behind and grabbed her buttocks and tried to talk with her. But when she challenged him, he fled.

      Officers found surveillance footage from the area that identified the suspect as the same individual as the April 12 incident.

      After interviews with victims and witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage, investigators traced the movements of the suspect, which helped to identify him.

      On August 21, RCMP arrested 29-year-old Jorge Benjamin Bernal of Burnaby at a residence in Burnaby. 

      However, after he was released on conditions, he allegedly went on to commit two more similar offences.

      On September 20, he is alleged to have inappropriately touched a case worker who was assigned to work with him.

      Then on November 6, he allegedly groped a community support worker who was helping him find accommodation.

      Bernal is now facing four counts of sexual assault.

      He is currently out on bail but must adhere to 22 conditions, including having no contact with anyone who is under 16 years of age, cannot travel on public transit unless traveling to an approved meeting or appointment, and must keep the peace and maintain good behavior.

      He will next appear in Vancouver Provincial Court on January 15.

      In a separate case, Metro Vancouver Transit Police arrested 39-year-old Grant Houle on December 3 after he allegedly groped a female SkyTrain passenger. He has been charged with sexual assault and had also been wanted on an outstanding warrant for a sexual assault on a bus in June.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook

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