Rug store owner accused of sexual attacks out on bond
A Laguna Beach rug store manager accused of multiple sex crimes has been out on bond since Halloween.
According to court records, Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan, was released at 11:42 p.m. Oct. 31.
The 53-year-old is accused of crimes against 11 women and faces a myriad of charges, including rape, sexual battery, sexual penetration with a foreign object, assault with the intent to commit oral copulation and distributing computer pornography to a minor. Many of the alleged incidents occurred in his rug store, Sirous & Sons Rug Gallery, on Ocean Avenue.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker said that any time someone is accused of having multiple victims, the possibility of a life sentence and potential future victims, the issue of being a flight risk is considered.
Walker said the court ruled the $1.5-million bail was sufficient and as a condition of bail, placed him on home consignment. His passport was also revoked.
She did not know the specifics of his home consignment but said in most cases, they are permitted to leave home for work and court.
He is definitely prohibited from contacting victims, she said.
Maralan has a pre-trial scheduled for Friday morning at Newport Harbor Justice Center.
If convicted, Maralan faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in prison.
— Joanna Clay
Twitter: @joannaclay