More Charges Filed Friday in Laguna Beach Sexual Assault Case

Prosecutors added more charges today against a registered sex offender accused of sexually assaulting multiple women in his family's downtown Laguna Beach rug store.

Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan, 53, of Laguna Niguel, is now facing charges involving three additional alleged victims, bringing the number to 11, according to Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Maralan's bail was set at $1.5 million, defense attorney Glenn Osajima said, declining further comment. Maralan initially faced charges related to four alleged victims.

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Publicity about the case, which was initially filed Sept. 6, led four other alleged victims between the ages of 35 and 51 to come forward. Maralan pleaded not guilty Sept. 16 to charges involving those four women. Details on the latest charges were not immediately available. But in the earlier cases, the eight women alleged they were assaulted at Maralan's family-run rug store, Sirous and Sons, at 222 Ocean Ave.

Maralan allegedly sexually assaulted a 51-year-old woman who lived upstairs from the rug store several times between May and July 2007. On one occasion, he allegedly grabbed her, pushed her against a wall near his desk in the store and repeatedly tried to kiss her.

He was also accused last month of raping a 48-year-old woman in April 2010 after she came to the store to sell rugs. A 35-year-old woman told investigators that Maralan groped her breasts and showed her a pornographic photo on his computer in December 2009; and a 44-year-old woman alleged that the defendant grabbed her by the wrist in June 2009, saying that he loved her, was lonely and wanted a hug and kiss.

Maralan was also previously charged with sexually assaulting a 40-year-old woman in April 2010; raping a 23-year-old woman who worked at the store on May 15, 2010; and kissing a 25-year-old woman interviewing for a job on Aug. 13. He is also accused of showing pornographic photos on his computer to a 17-year-old intern at the store on March 3 of this year.

Details involving the three latest victims are as follows, from the Orange County Sheriff's Department:

Jane Doe #9
In November 2010, 61-year-old Jane Doe #9 visited Maralan’s rug store with a friend to pick up a rug she had on consignment. Maralan is accused of taking Jane Doe #9 to the back of the store under the pretense of showing her something while the victim’s friend remained in the front of the store. He is accused of grabbing Jane Doe #9 by the waist and telling her he hadn’t had sex in months. When Jane Doe #9 pulled away and asked him what he was doing, Maralan is accused of telling her he wanted her hips. Jane Doe #9 was able to get away and left the store with her friend.

Jane Doe #10
In January 2009, 47-year-old Jane Doe #10 went into Maralan’s rug store to have a rug cleaned. Maralan is accused of asking her to go to the back room with him to look at some “antique pieces.” Jane Doe #10 declined and left the store. While the victim was driving home, Maralan is accused of calling her and telling her he felt energy between them. He is accused calling her repeatedly over the next few days and asking her out to dinner, to which Jane Doe #10 finally agreed.

After the date, Maralan is accused of driving Jane Doe #10 back to her office building and parking the car. He is accused of locking the doors and trying to touch and kiss her. After ten minutes of Jane Doe #10 asking the defendant to unlock the doors, Maralan is accused of unlocking the doors and meeting the victim on the passenger side of the vehicle. He is accused of forcing himself on her, wrapping his arms around her tightly so she could not escape, and kissing her. The defendant is accused of rubbing his erect penis against her body through his clothing. He is accused of asking Jane Doe #10 for “love” and to go back to her place. The victim told him “no” and was able to release herself from his grasp and leave the scene.

Jane Doe #11
In July 2007, 49-year-old Jane Doe #11 had her rugs picked up by a service to have them cleaned. Two hours later, Maralan is accused of calling Jane Doe #11 and telling her the rugs were at his store and to come in as soon as possible so he could show her how they would be washed. The victim declined, and Maralan is accused of repeatedly calling and asking her to come into the Laguna Beach rug store for various reasons regarding the cleaning of her rugs.

A month later, Jane Doe #11 went to the rug store to exchange the rug. Maralan is accused of taking the victim to the back of the store and instructing her to stay there while he walked to the front doors and locked them. He is accused of returning to Jane Doe #11 and coming at her with open arms and trying to kiss her. When Jane Doe #11 pushed against him, Maralan is accused of pulling down his pants and exposing his penis. He is accused of grabbing the victim’s hand and pulling it towards his penis, asking her to touch it and hold it. Jane Doe #11 was able to pull away and told Maralan she would tell his wife about the sexual assault. Maralan is accused of pulling up his pants and unlocking the front doors of the store to let the victim out.

-- City News Service contributed to this report.