Man charged over alleged sexual assault of two women in woods

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged a 40-year-old man with sexually assaulting two women in his van in a remote part of the Angeles National Forest earlier this week.

According to court records, Eduardo Sarabia was charged Wednesday with one count of forcible rape and one count of forcible oral copulation. Sarabia is accused of raping a woman after driving her to a hidden wooded area on Sunday and sexually assaulting a second woman on Monday in the same remote area, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón’s office announced this in a press release. According to authorities, the incidents occurred along Highway 39 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“The horrific and violent sexual assault these two survivors suffered at the hands of the alleged suspect is deeply disturbing and incomprehensible. “Our thoughts are with the victims at this extremely difficult time,” Gascón said in a statement Thursday.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating additional victims. Due to the circumstances of the case, investigators believe there may be other unknown victims. The Sheriff’s Department released images of Sarabia and his windowless, white-paneled van.

“I would like to emphasize that this is an ongoing investigation and there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. I urge anyone affected by similar incidents to contact law enforcement and seek available resources,” Gascón said.

Sarabia was arraigned in a Pomona courtroom on Wednesday and is due back in court on June 27. Anyone with information about this case can contact the Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273 or email [email protected].