Addison Morris
Following a plea of “not guilty” during a late December arraignment, Isla Vista resident Patrick Galoustian’s hearing was postponed for the second time and is now scheduled for Feb. 15. Galoustian’s preliminary hearing in court was originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25.
Galoustian, owner of iV Menus, is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting an unconscious female victim in I.V.
Authorities charged Galoustian, 45, with rape of a drugged victim, two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, and two counts of forced oral copulation. The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office arrested him on Dec. 18.
According to Santa Barbara’s Superior Court records, Galoustian assaulted the victim in his residence/store the night of Dec. 17. Galoustian lived in the same building where he operated his food delivery business on Embarcadero del Norte.
Students may remember the alert that the UCSB Police Department sent out on Dec. 8. The alert gave a timely warning of the crime that occurred the previous night. University of California Police Department (UCPD) is still investigating Galoustian’s alleged crimes.
According to Santa Barbara’s Superior Court records, Galoustian’s bail was set at $1 million in December under Judge Monica Marlow’s authority. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, Judge Clifford R. Anderson III changed the bail amount to $500,000. Galoustian did not meet bail and does not qualify for state prison, but he will remain in Santa Barbara County Jail.
Records also show a change in Galoustian’s alleged crimes from the hearing in December to the hearing in January. Initially, Galoustian’s charges were kidnap for the purpose of robbery or rape, rape of a drugged victim, and two counts of forced oral copulation. Now, records show rape of a drugged victim, two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, and two counts of forced oral copulation.
The female victim remains anonymous. She is not formally associated with UCSB, nor is the offender, according to the initial UCSB police report. However, Galoustian is a UCSB alumnus.
iV Menus, which Galoustian has managed since 2008, is currently closed.