UPDATE, SEPT. 16, 3:08 P.M.: As expected, prosecutors have filed new charges against registered sex offender Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan based on the allegations of four more women. In addition to the accusations by four other women, the Laguna Niguel 53-year-old allegedly: grabbed the breasts of a woman who came to display her Persian bags
at the rug store Maralan manages; pushed a woman who lived above the store against a wall
and exposed his penis to her; forcibly raped a woman who'd come to
sell rugs to the store, atop a stack of rugs in a storage room he'd pushed her into; and took his
shirt off in front of a woman who'd come to the store to cut his hair, grabbed her wrist, told her he loved her, said he was lonely and in need of a hug and kiss and, when she asked for her money so she could leave, offered her jewelry and kneeled before her crying, saying
he needed love.
]
Previously charged with felony rape, attempted forcible rape, sexual penetration by a foreign object and exhibition of lewd materials to a minor on the allegations of the first four females, Maralan must also now answer to two felony counts of sexual battery by restraint, one felony count each of forcible rape, sexual penetration by a foreign object by force, attempted forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure with a sentencing enhancement for committing a sexual offense against more than one victim.
With conviction on the new charges, he could be sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison. Maralan was being held in lieu of $2 million bail pending arraignment today in Santa Ana.
Media coverage of charges being filed Sept. 2 by the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) against Maralan for alleged sex crimes against four women who worked at or were customers of Sirous
and Sons rug store in Laguna Beach prompted six other women to come forward with similar accusations. The Laguna Beach Police Department re-arrested Maralan this week based on an investigation of the claims of three of these females.
However, the OCDA statement below breaks down the allegations four victims. As was the case with the previous four females (see original post on next page), none of the victims knew one another, according to the OCDA.
Jane Doe #5
Jane Doe #5, 51, lived in the upstairs unit above the rug store Sirous
and Sons. Between May and July 2007, Maralan is accused of sexually
assaulting Jane Doe #5 on several occasions. When Jane Doe #5 entered
the rug store to talk to Maralan about the electricity bill, Maralan is
accused of asking for a hug. He is accused of wrapping his left arm
around her and grabbing her breast with his right hand and pulling her
against him. Jane Doe #5 was able to free herself immediately.A few weeks later, Jane Doe #5 entered the rug store to speak with
Maralan. While they were talking, Maralan is accused of grabbing hold of
the victim and pushing her against the wall near his desk. Maralan is
accused of trying to repeatedly kiss her on the mouth. Jane Doe #5
thrashed her head from side to side and was able to get away from
Maralan, and left the rug store very upset.In early July 2007, Maralan is accused of contacting Jane Doe #5 about
very important mail she had received. When she entered the rug store to
retrieve her mail, the defendant is accused of asking her to come
around the desk and gestured to his crotch, saying, “Look what I have
for you.” Maralan is accused of exposing his erect penis to the victim.Jane Doe #6
In April 2010, 48-year-old Jane Doe #6 visited Maralan's rug store in
order to sell her rugs. Maralan is accused of leading Jane Doe #6 to the
back of the store and into the storage area. He is accused of turning
off the lights, grabbing the victim, and lifting her onto a pile of
rugs. The defendant is accused of stripping her clothes off as she
resisted and told him not to. He is accused of forcibly digitally
penetrating Jane Doe #6 as she tried to fight him off. Once she got down
from the rugs and tried to escape, Maralan is accused of grabbing her,
turning her back to him, and forcibly raping her as she screamed. He is
accused of then trying to orally copulate the victim when she refused to
orally copulate him. She was able to get out of the storage room as she
pulled her pants up, and fled the store.Jane Doe #7
In December 2009, 35-year-old Jane Doe #7 met Maralan at the rug store
for a business appointment to display her Persian bags in his store.
Once seated at his desk, Maralan is accused of asking Jane Doe #7 to
look at his computer screen under the pretense of showing her a picture
of a female he claimed to know. He is accused of instead showing her a
pornographic website featuring a naked woman. He is accused of leading
the victim to the back of the store and into the storage area. As Jane
Doe #7 leaned down to rummage through the Persian bags, the defendant is
accused of coming up behind her and grabbing Jane Doe #7's breasts.
When the victim resisted and tried to leave, Maralan is accused of
grabbing her and kissing the top of her head. Jane Doe #7 was able to
free herself and left the store.Jane Doe #8
In June 2009, 44-year-old Jane Doe #8 had an appointment at Maralan's
store to cut his hair. Once she arrived, the defendant is accused of
locking the front door. After cutting his hair in the rug store
bathroom, Maralan is accused of taking his shirt off in front of Jane
Doe #8 and grabbing hold of her wrist. He is accused of telling Jane Doe
#8 that he loved her, was lonely, and needed a hug and a kiss. When the
victim refused and asked for her money so she could leave, Maralan is
accused of offering her jewelry and kneeling before her crying, saying
he needed love. Jane Doe #8 told Maralan her co-workers knew where she
was and would call police if she didn't return. She collected her fee
and left the store.
UPDATE, SEPT. 15, 7:52 A.M.: At least six more females have come forward to say they were victimized by Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan
of Laguna Niguel, and the allegations of three of them have produced
additional charges against the 53-year-old rug store manager and
registered sex offender.
The most recent “winner” of the Weekly's
Ugly Police Mugshot of the Week was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of
rape, penetration by a foreign object and assault with the intent to
commit oral copulation.
That brings the total number of victims to seven who have prompted police charges against Maralan. Before yesterday's arrest, the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) had already charged him with felony rape, attempted
forcible rape, sexual penetration by a foreign object and exhibition of lewd materials to a minor that could put him in state prison for 34 years to life. The OCDA is now considering whether to file additional charges.
Media coverage of Maralan's initial arrest prompted more women to come forward. If you believe the manager of Sirous and Sons in Laguna Beach victimized you, contact DA investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714.347.8794 or Laguna Beach Police detectives Natalie
Leal or Julia Bowman at 949.497.0377.
[
ORIGINAL POST, SEPT. 9, 9:36 A.M.: A 53-year-old rug store manager and registered sex offender is the “winner” of our Ugly Police Mugshot of the Week. The crimes Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan
allegedly committed at Sirous and Sons in Laguna Beach are uglier:
shuffling the daughter of a customer into a closet, pulling down her
shirt to expose a breast, licking and sucking her breast and nipple and,
as she pulled away, masturbating and splooging toward her; raping a
23-year-old female employee against a stack of rugs; tricking an intern
who was a minor girl into look at porn on his computer screen; and
pressing his erect penis against a horrified job applicant and offering
her $500 for sex.
Meanwhile, due to the Laguna Niguel resident's alleged brazen behavior, the Laguna Beach Police Department and Orange County District
Attorney's office (OCDA) are seeking leads to other possible victims.
He was arraigned this week on charges of felony forcible rape, attempted forcible rape, sexual
penetration by foreign object by force, and distributing pornography to a
minor with a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing a sexual
offense against more than one victim. Here is the breakdown on the allegations contained in an OCDA statement on Maralan's arraignment last Tuesday:
Jane Doe #1
Maralan manages a rug store, Sirous and Sons, in Laguna Beach. On
April 10, 2010, 40-year-old Jane Doe #1 went to the rug store as a
customer with her mother. While the victim's mother filled out paperwork
at the front of the store, Maralan is accused of leading Jane Doe #1 to
the back of the store and into a small closet. He is accused of
grabbing and kissing the victim and then pulling his pants down to his
ankles. As Jane Doe #1 turned to get away and had her back to the
defendant, Maralan is accused of pulling down the victim's pants,
grabbing her buttocks, and pushing his penis against her buttocks in an
attempt to rape her. Jane Doe #1 was able to push the defendant away
from behind her, and Maralan is accused of then digitally penetrating
the victim. He is accused of turning Jane Doe #1 to face him, pulling
down her shirt to expose a breast, and licking and sucking the victim's
breast and nipple. The victim was able to pull away and Maralan is
accused of masturbating toward Jane Doe #1 and ejaculating. Jane Doe #1
reported the sexual assault to LBPD that day.Jane Doe #2
Jane Doe #2, 23, was an employee in Maralan's store. On May 15, 2010,
Maralan is accused of asking the victim to follow him into a storage
room and grabbing her wrist to pull her toward him. Jane Doe #2
attempted to pull away but was unable to break the defendant's grasp.
Maralan is accused of undoing his pants and removing his erect penis,
turning the victim away from him, pushing her against a stack of rugs,
and pushing her head down with his hand. While standing behind the
victim, Maralan is accused of forcibly raping the victim and then
removing his penis to ejaculate in a napkin. Jane Doe #2 told a friend
about the rape that night and reported it to LBPD the following day.Jane Doe #3
Jane Doe #3, 17, was an intern at Maralan's store. On March 3, 2011, the defendant asked the victim several inappropriate sexual questions about the number of men she'd had sex with, if she had ever been sexual with a woman, and if she liked being kissed. Maralan is accused of instructing Jane Doe #3 to look at his computer screen under the pretense of showing her a picture of a female who looked like the victim. He is accused of instead showing her a pornographic website featuring naked men and women. Jane Doe #3 immediately walked out of the store, locked herself in her truck, and drove home to report the incident to her mother and LBPD.
Jane Doe #4
On Aug. 13, 2011, 25-year-old Jane Doe #4 went to Maralan's store for a job interview. Maralan is accused of asking the victim for a hug and a kiss on the cheek and closed mouth, and pressing his erect penis against her through his clothes when she complied. Maralan is accused of repeatedly asking Jane Doe #4 to have sex with him and offering her $500 for sex. He is accused of rubbing his penis over his clothing as he asked for sex, but the victim continually refused. He is accused of giving the victim another hug, pulling her against his body and erect penis, and refusing to let go as she tried to pull away. After letting go, Maralan is accused of attempting to reach between the victim's legs. Jane Doe #4 reported the sexual assault to LBPD that day.
According to prosecutors, none of the four victims knew each other.
Currently held in lieu of $1 million bail, Maralan faces a maximum
sentence of 34 years to life in state prison if convicted. Additional
allegations would produce more charges and the possiblity of increased prison time.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a
victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney
Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714.347.8794 or LBPD Detectives Natalie
Leal or Julia Bowman at 949.497.0377.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.