San Diego

A Coos Bay, Ore., man charged with trying to kill a suspected prostitute in San Diego pleaded innocent Tuesday and was given an April 18 trial date.

Glesty Waters, 35, is accused of trying to choke Helen Toy, 33, of Chula Vista on Jan. 5 after Waters allegedly picked her up to perform an act of prostitution. In the preliminary hearing, Toy said she was driven to an isolated spot on a dark road and choked. She said that, after she pretended to be dead, the assailant dropped her out of his station wagon and left her.

Waters is charged with premeditated attempted murder, kidnaping, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and false imprisonment.

“I’m not guilty of anything,” Waters told San Diego Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos when asked to give his plea.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Charles Rogers said Waters also is suspected of attacks on other prostitutes in the San Diego area, but so far has not been charged with any of those.