Rug Merchant Sentenced to 34 Years to Life for Sex Assaults in Store
A former Laguna Beach rug merchant, Saeid Maralan, 67, of Laguna Niguel, has been sentenced to 34 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting two women in his store. The sentencing took place on Monday, February 6, more than two years after his conviction and 14 years after he was initially charged.
Maralan was convicted of two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and single counts each of rape and attempted oral copulation, all felonies. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office initially charged Maralan with sexual assaults against eight women in September 2011. A month later, three more accusers came forward, bringing the total number of alleged victims to 11.
Over the years, the case was narrowed down to two victims Maralan was charged with attacking, and two others whose allegations were used to provide further evidence of a pattern of behavior. Pattern of behavior evidence is often used in sexual assault cases to demonstrate a defendant’s propensity for committing similar crimes.
Maralan received credit for roughly two years and 10 months behind bars. He had argued that he should receive more custody credits for being in home confinement in the years leading up to his trial. However, after reviewing the records, he was granted only an additional day of credit.
The sentencing brings closure to a case that has spanned over a decade. The victims and their families can finally find some measure of justice and healing. The case highlights the importance of support for victims of sexual assault and the need for accountability for those who commit these heinous crimes.
In a statement, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office expressed its commitment to pursuing justice for victims of sexual assault and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
