Exposure Suspect Now Facing Rape Charges After DNA Tests

A Huntington Beach man already accused of six counts of indecent exposure was linked by DNA to the rapes of two women earlier this year, and authorities sought Wednesday to determine if there are other victims.

Calvin Cunningham, 24, was linked to the additional crimes after lab tests were completed, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith said.

“We’re guessing there are more victims,” Smith said.

Cunningham made his first appearance in court Wednesday on the rape charges, but his arraignment was postponed until next week.

Cunningham is a suspect in the rape of a jogger grabbed from behind and dragged into bushes at Fairview Regional Park in Costa Mesa on Feb. 22. He is also suspected of attacking a woman in Westminster, who was grabbed from behind and dragged away on July 3.

A $25,000 reward was offered anonymously for the arrest of the rapist, but no suspect was found at the time, Smith said.

DNA testing done after the July rape determined that the women were attacked by the same man, but his identity was unknown, Smith said.

Meanwhile, between July and September, five indecent exposures were reported in Costa Mesa, Smith said, and Cunningham was arrested after a sixth incident of indecent exposure in Huntington Beach.

On a hunch, Costa Mesa police submitted a DNA sample to the Orange County sheriff’s lab, and Cunningham allegedly was linked to the two rapes, Smith said.