By Jorge Casuso

August 11, 2022 -- Police are seeking possible victims of a registered sex offender arrested last Friday for allegedly groping a 16-year-old girl in Downtown Santa Monica.

Anthony Barrett (Courtesy SMPD)

Anthony Barrett, a 29-year-old homeless man from Ohio, was arrested in the Downtown area for sexually assaulting the teenager on June 28 in the area of 4th Street and Colorado Avenue, according to police. In the assault, the suspect "grabbed a female’s buttocks then fled," according to Lt. Rudy Flores, the Police Department spokesman. On Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Barrett for Sexual Battery and failure to register as a Sex Offender, Flores said.

Barrett was a registered sex offender in Ohio but failed to register within the three days required after arriving in a new jurisdiction, Flores said.

"Investigators believe Barrett has been in Southern California since at least June of 2022," Flores said. "He is known to travel between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica."

Barrett is being held in Men's Central Jail in Downtown Los Angeles, according to Flores.

Police are "seeking the public’s help in identifying additional victims who may have been sexually assaulted in the City of Santa Monica," Flores said.

Anyone who may have been involved in or witnessed an incident involving Barrett should call Detective Brian Spencer at (310) 458-8420 or Sergeant Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8931.

Persons with crime information can also contact Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS, texting from a mobile phone, or by visiting their website at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Callers may remain anonymous and may be qualified to receive a $1,000.00 reward from Crime Stoppers.