Police seek possible victims

Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed or been a victim of a Corona del Mar man who police believe may have attacked women who responded to his online advertisement for a roommate to contact authorities.

On Sept. 24, Corey Katir, 48, posted a room-for-rent advertisement on Craigslist, listing it as a “$690 Cottage Near the Ocean,” but said the price was negotiable, according to prosecutors.

The next day, police said a 24-year-old women responded to the ad and met Katir at his Corona del Mar home.

According to prosecutors, during the visit Katir sat next to the woman on the couch and began rubbing her shoulders and kissed her. When the woman got up to leave, police said he grabbed her by the hand and yanked her into the bedroom and pinned her on the bed.

Officials described the woman as 5-feet tall, 110 pounds, and Katir as 5-feet-10, 220 pounds.

Katir grabbed the woman’s chest and buttocks and pulled out his penis and forced her to touch it, prosecutors claim.

Police believe there may be more victims and are seeking the public’s help.

Anyone with information or who believes they have been a victim of a similar crime are encouraged to call Newport Beach police investigator Penny Freeman at (949) 644-3776 or district attorney investigator Ed Berakovich at (714) 834-7538.

Katir is free on $50,000 bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 9 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.