Los Angeles: A suspect has been arrested in connection with a series of hot prowl burglaries and/or indecent exposure incidents that occurred in the vicinity the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) campus. In one of the hot prowl burglaries that occurred on November 21, 2002 an 18-year-old female CSUN student was sexually assaulted.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD) assumed investigative responsibility for the series. A break in the case came when the suspect composite was shown to a detective from CSUN’s University Police. The CSUN detective, Sergeant Dana Archer, noted a resemblance between the composite and a CSUN student they had been investigating in relation to a couple of indecent exposure incidents that had occurred in their on-campus student housing area.

Further investigation by detectives revealed that the CSUN student, 21 year-old Ervin Standifer III, was an unregistered sex offender who was currently out on bail for an indecent exposure case in the City of Hawthorne. It was also discovered that Standifer was suspected of similar incidents near his mother’s residence in Sylmar.

Standifer was placed under surveillance and was arrested on December 10, 2002, outside one of his classes. Standifer remained in custody on one felony count of 314.1 PC (Indecent Exposure with a prior), while investigators continued investigating the case. Public notification of his arrest was postponed until investigators completed witness interviews and a live line-up.

On January 30, 2003, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed an additional 22 counts against Standifer. If convicted, Standifer faces a possible life sentence.

A photograph of the suspect is available at Media Relations Section.

For further information, contact Robbery-Homicide Division, Rape Special Section’s Valley Office at 818-756-8309.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.