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Man accused of attempted rape at Grossmont College

A man accused of forcing an 18-year-old female student into her car at knifepoint in a Grossmont College parking garage pleaded not guilty Thursday to assault with intent to commit rape.

EL CAJON (CNS) - A man accused of forcing an 18-year-old female student into her car at knifepoint in a Grossmont College parking garage pleaded not guilty Thursday to assault with intent to commit rape.

Anthony Jerome Washington Jr., 26, was ordered held on $205,000 bail. He faces 16 years in prison if convicted.

Deputy District Attorney Nicole Roth said the victim was leaning into her car at the western El Cajon campus shortly before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when Washington forced her into the vehicle.

Roth said Washington had gone to the college with the specific purpose of "taking sex."

As the woman struggled to free herself, a passerby saw what was happening and honked his car horn until the assailant ran off, according to sheriff's Sgt. Vic Perry.

Deputies assigned to patrol the college then searched the campus, found a man matching the description of the attacker nearby and took Washington into custody.

After being arrested, Washington allegedly confessed that he had planned to rape the student "and do whatever he had to in order to get his way," the sergeant said.

Judge Charles Ervin set a readiness conference for Nov. 1 and a preliminary hearing for Nov. 6.

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