Two young girls were sexually assaulted in their family's waterfront apartment early in the morning on Saturday, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department, which credits the public and area businesses for their help in apprehending a suspect by nightfall.
Matthew Robert Torres, a 39-year-old transient described by police as having ties with Ventura, was arrested after police received numerous calls that a man matching the description of the attacker was seen on State and Carrillo streets.
The father of the two girls, both younger than 14 years old, was awakened on July 23 around 4 a.m. by noises coming from their bedroom. He encountered a strange man in their home and threw him out. He then learned his daughters had been molested and called police, who determined the man had entered through an unlocked door. As police searched for a suspect, the girls went through child forensic interviews and medical exams; they and their family were referred to sexual assault victim advocates.