Pacifica police arrest man accused of drugging, raping men

PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- Pacifica police are looking for more victims, as well as suspects, in an expanding rape case.

Pacifica police arrested Joseph Courtney July 28th, accused of several sexual assaults. This past week alone, five more victims, all men, have come forward.

Police believe most of the victims were drugged, raped while unconscious and videotaped.

Neighbors say Courtney lived with his mother, sister and three-year-old niece.

"We suspected it for a long time," said one the neighbors, identified only as Linda.

Those in the Park Pacifica neighborhood say something illegal was happening here for years. They called the police. They suspected drugs were involved.

"This could have been stopped a long time ago. And it's just awful everything that's going on," said the same neighbor.

"I think it's wrong, there should be nobody like this in the neighborhood. I got grand kids, people across the street have kids, they're small," said another neighbor, identified as Gary.

Courtney is also charged with possessing child porn.

Investigators say Courtney contacted the men through dating apps and they all agreed to have consensual sex. But instead, he is accused of drugging them with GHB before raping them.

Courtney's attorney insists his client is innocent.

"These allegations are from people that were engaging in voluntary contact with one another they were full in knowing what they were doing," said attorney Steven Chase.

A trauma counselor is sure it's only a matter of time before more men come forward.

"When they are sexually assaulted that shame and guilt can really keep them quiet," explained Amanda Freeman, with the Rape and Trauma Services of San Mateo County.