Trial starts for man accused of serial rapes in Newport

Trial began Monday for an accused serial rapist who allegedly preyed on women he met at bars, parties and elsewhere in the Newport Beach social scene

Adel Regragui, 46, raped or tried to rape seven women between March 2005 and November 2011, according to charges filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

He’s now facing nearly two dozen felonies, including multiple counts of rape, forcible sodomy and oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object.

In court documents, prosecutors describe Regragui as a predator who would drug or overpower women he met, often through Newport Beach’s nightlife.

In the earliest incident in 2005, court documents describe Regragui and a woman meeting as they biked along the beach.

The woman remembers meeting with Regragui later at his Newport Beach apartment, where he “grabbed her by her throat,” forced her onto the bed and removed her bathing suit, according to court documents.

Regragui routinely offered his victims drugs or alcohol before the sexual assaults, prosecutors allege.

Some of the assaults allegedly occurred while the victims were unconscious.

The charges against him include three counts of rape by use of drugs and one count of attempted rape by use of drugs.

Regragui has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In court documents, his defense attorneys argue any sexual encounters were consensual and not the result of drugs or force.

“Rather, the alleged victims were sophisticated and experienced party-goers and drug-users in the Newport Beach bar scene who voluntarily ingested drugs and knew full well they were engaging in and knowingly consenting to sexual relations with the defendant,” Regragui’s defense wrote.

Newport Beach police arrested Regragui in December 2011.

He’s been behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail since, according to jail records.