Photo: L.A. County Sheriff's Department
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 40-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting two women in a secluded area of the Angeles National Forest on Sunday and Monday, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Eduardo Sarabia is charged with one count of forcible rape and one count of forcible oral copulation, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said.
Sarabia is scheduled to be arraigned on June 27 in the Pomona Courthouse.
On Sunday, Sarabia allegedly drove a female victim to a secluded area in the Angeles National Forest where he raped her. The next day, he allegedly drove a second female to the same location where he sexually assaulted her, Gascón said.
Sarabia, who was arrested Monday, is being held on no bail. If convicted as charged, Sarabia faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.
"As District Attorney, it is my solemn duty to pursue justice for victims of violent crimes, especially those involving sexual assault," Gascón said in a news release. "The horrific and violent sexual assault that these two survivors endured by the alleged suspect is deeply troubling and incomprehensible. Our thoughts are with the victims during this tremendously difficult time."
Gascón thanked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for its "swift investigation to present this case to our office. I want to emphasize that this is an ongoing investigation, and there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward. I urge anyone who has been affected by similar incidents to contact law enforcement and seek available resources."
Investigators released a booking photo of Sarabia, along with pictures of a white cargo van believed to have been used in the attacks, in hopes of encouraging additional possible victims to come forward. The attacks allegedly occurred in the van while parking along state Route 39 in the national forest.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the LASD Special Victim Bureau at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
Photo: L.A. County Sheriff's Department