Suspect of Venice Canal attack appears in court

He faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole

By Zach Armstrong

The man accused of raping and beating two women near the canals of Venice in April was scheduled to go on trial on June 11, Fox11 reported.

Anthony Jones faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his alleged crimes. The trial took place more than two months after the 29-year-old suspect violently attacked two victims who were taking an evening stroll along the canals.

Five days after the attack, police officers were able to locate Jones using surveillance footage in San Diego.

The charges against Jones include two counts of rape, one count of torture, one count of attempted murder, one count of sexual penetration by force, one count of sodomy by force and one count of assault, KTLA previously reported.

A candlelight vigil will be held at the Sherman Canal pedestrian bridge on June 13 at 7:30 p.m. for Sarah Alden, who died several weeks after an attack near the canals. On Monday, May 20, Alden was declared brain dead after several weeks in the hospital and in a coma.