Police arrest suspect in sex crimes

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- Police arrested a 35-year-old Tustin man Monday on

suspicion of indecent exposure and lewd acts involving children in

multiple cities, including Costa Mesa, officials said.

Costa Mesa and Tustin police officials said Kirk Brian Eggleston has

been involved in several sex crimes -- exposing himself or approaching

young girls with pornographic pictures in public places -- in the cities

of Tustin, Irvine and Diamond Bar.

On April 25, Costa Mesa police received reports of a man approaching

young girls between the ages of 7 and 10 at three locations -- Mesa Verde

Library, Mesa Ballet Studio and a Barnes & Noble store -- and exposing

himself to them. Police said the man talked to them, showed them

pornographic pictures and then either exposed or tried to expose himself

to them. A similar incident was reported at the Tustin Public Library on

June 27.

Officers arrested Eggleston near his Tustin Ranch home Monday after a

six-month investigation, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

This was a challenging case for investigators because of the limited

personal identification that was available to them, he said.

“All they had to work on was his composite sketch,” Birney said.

But what gave him away, as in most sex crimes, was his unique mode of

operation, Birney said.

“He did unique things, and he did them consistently,” he said.

Birney said police were concerned about the culprit’s actions more so

because he struck in public places, such as malls and libraries.

“He was in places with a lot of people around and yet had no problem

whatsoever approaching these young girls and exposing himself to them,”

he said. “These were pretty brazen acts.”

Eggleston is being held in Orange County jail with bail set at

$150,000.

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .