More Potential Victims of Alleged Newport Beach Rapist?

A Newport Beach man who made his first court appearance today on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting two women may face additional charges as investigators review complaints from other potential victims, according to a prosecutor.

Adel Regragui, whose arraignment was rescheduled until Jan. 6, was ordered held on $1-million bail, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker said.

Regragui, 42, met his first alleged victim on May 5, 2010, at a party, Walker said. Regragui invited the 23-year-old to his house, where he gave her drugs, Walker alleged.

The woman told authorities she woke up naked with the defendant sexually assaulting her with his fingers and a bottle, Walker said. Regragui is also accused of forcing her to perform oral sex on him, Walker said.

A 21-year-old woman told investigators she asked to buy Xanax from Regragui while the two were at a Newport Beach bar in June, Walker said.

"She knew he was someone to get drugs from so she asked him for Xanax," Walker said.

Regragui said he had some at his home, so he took her there and convinced her to try GHB, which he poured into a Gatorade bottle cap, Walker alleged.

The woman got sick and vomited, and when she woke up, Regragui allegedly raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on him. The woman did not report the alleged attack to authorities until after she saw Regragui again Nov. 26 at the same bar, Walker said.

The woman, who tried to avoid Regargui at the bar, said she was having a drink with a friend when she blacked out, the prosecutor said.

When the woman woke up, she was at Regragui's home in someone else's lingerie, with her hands bound, Walker alleged. She asked him if they had sex, and he said they had, according to the prosecutor.

Investigators are reviewing similar complaints from other potential victims, Walker said.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794, or Newport Beach police detective David Syvock at (949) 644-3771.

Regragui is charged with three counts of forcible rape, two counts of forcible oral copulation and one count each of sexual penetration by foreign object by force and sodomy by force—all felonies.

Regragui, who also faces sentence-enhancing allegations of committing a sexual assault against multiple victims and tying and binding of a victim, faces up to 115 years to life in prison if convicted, Walker said.

—City News Service