from www.ocweekly.com –

from www.latimes.com – A rug dealer was accused Friday of sexual misconduct with three additional women who Orange County prosecutors say came forward because of media coverage of earlier allegations that he repeatedly assaulted women in the back room of his Laguna Beach showroom.

The new charges of sexual battery and indecent exposure bring to 11 the number of women who allege they were assaulted or molested by Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan, 53, of Laguna Niguel. Maralan is a registered sex offender who had several earlier sexual assault convictions in Los Angeles County.

The case has stirred anger in the community because more than a year lapsed between the first police reports in Laguna Beach and Maralan’s arrest in September.

Maralan’s attorney, Craig Osajima, said he would have no comment at this time.

The new allegations date to 2007 and involve three unrelated women, ages 47 to 61, who say Maralan accosted them at his store. One of the women said he locked her up, exposed himself and tried to force her to fondle his genitals.

Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office, said the women were too embarrassed or ashamed to report his conduct at the time. “But when they saw the other victims, they felt compelled to come forward and say what happened to them,” she said.

After the first set of charges was filed, Maralan posted $1 million bail and was released from jail, Emami said. The judge upped his bail to $1.5 million when he was charged with assaulting the second set of women, and he remains in custody, she added.

With the new charges, Maralan faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

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Here are the latest charges from the DA’s office:

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 10 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.