Gainesville man arrested for groping woman in retail store

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Matthew A. Billeyh, 23, was arrested yesterday for allegedly following a woman he didn’t know while she shopped at Target and then grabbing her buttocks; officers believe he may be responsible for similar incidents in other stores.

On January 12, the victim told a responding Gainesville Police Department officer that while she was shopping at Target (3970 SW Archer Road), a man started following her around the store; she said she went to a different area of the store to get away from him, but he continued to follow her.

The victim said that while she was in the make-up department, the man walked by her and touched her buttocks. Target employees reportedly noticed the victim’s distress and rushed to help her.

The responding officer reported that surveillance video from the store shows Billeyh following the victim and quickly touching her as he walks behind her.

On August 13, a Target employee learned that Billeyh had returned to the store and was again following women; the employee said Billeyh had touched another woman, but the woman did not want to report the incident.

On August 18, a social media post showed a picture of a man who was allegedly following women in two Gainesville department stores; responses to the post included at least one additional photo of the man, and GPD confirmed that Billeyh is the man shown in the photos. Investigation into the incidents described in the posts is ongoing.

The officer wrote, “Evidence indicates [Billeyh] is engaged in an ongoing course of criminal conduct that is causing significant distress to the public. Training and experience cause [this officer] to conclude that [Billeyh’s] behavior has the potential to escalate in severity and that [Billeyh] remains an active threat to the public.”

Billeyh has been charged with stalking and simple battery. He has no criminal history, and Judge Luis Bustamante set bail at $30,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.