Winfield man gets 3 years in Prairie Path attack

A Winfield man was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for attacking two women on separate occasions on the Illinois Prairie Path.

Matthew Grover, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated battery before Judge Brian Telander in a DuPage County courtroom, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Grover will be required to serve half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

According to prosecutors, police were called around 4 p.m. April 24 for a report of a man approaching a woman from behind on the Illinois Prairie Path and seizing her in a "bear hug." The attacker released the woman and fled when joggers approached from the opposite direction. An investigation into the attack uncovered a similar incident near the same area in late September or early October 2016.

Grover has been in custody since April 26, when he appeared in bond court. Bond was set at $200,000.