He received media attention in 2018 after he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. The criminal charges against the pair stem from two alleged incidents in 2016. The request, however, was denied last year by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Fish rejected arguments from defense attorneys that sexual activity between the defendants and three women cited in the search warrant was consensual and that no crime was committed. Authorities said the couple may have attempted to assault women at several festivals and camp sites along the west coast, including the Burning Man Festival, Dirtybird Campout Festival, Splash House Festival, and various tourist landmarks around Page, Arizona. Rackauckas claimed investigators had about 1,000 of these videos on the suspects' phones. UPDATE: Surgeon accused of multiple rapes is LHS grad - KATC Spitzers review of the case came under scrutiny during a personnel investigation into an investigator at the district attorneys office, Jennifer Kearns. [3] Robicheaux was charged with sixteen felonies, including sexually assaulting seven women and Riley was charged with sexually assaulting five women. At the time, prosecutors painted the couple as sexual predators who used their good looks to prey on vulnerable women, drug them and take them back to their posh Newport Beach home to assault them. However, there are a total of 13 accusers, some of whom could be used by prosecutors as further evidence of a pattern of behavior. [1], In February 2020, Todd Spitzer won the election for District Attorney, taking over Rackauckas's position. The motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Former Reality TV Star Surgeon Accused Of Rape Gets Charges - Deadline Internal memo criticizes O.C. district attorney's review of Robicheaux His nationality is American. [1] The woman stated that she consumed large amounts of alcohol before they invited her to Robicheaux's residence for an afterparty, where they drugged, raped, and orally copulated her. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. I didnt create this situation, but its my responsibility to fix it, Spitzer said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Julie Garland and Mary Katherine Strickland of the Attorney Generals Office told Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Ospino Friday that they intend to file an amended complaint. In an another alleged incident in October 2016, a womans loud screams spurred neighbors to call 911. [5][3] Later in 2020, the Attorney General of California took over prosecuting the case. She was a beautiful girl., Prosecutors said she and Robicheauxan orthopedic surgeon once named Orange Countys Most Eligible Bachelor, who used the alias InGoodHands on a Bravo series about online datingused their good looks to lure women back to their home.'. They were accused of drugging women they would meet at various Newport Beach venues and then taking them to their Newport Beach home to sexually assault them. Instead, Jones removed the district attorneys office from the case and ordered it be turned over to the California attorney generals office. A woman, or any participant, can limit or withdraw his/her consent at any time, Fish wrote. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. Swingers, journalist Justine Harman reexamines the case of Newport Beach surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Orange County judge grants motion to dismiss charges for 2 alleged Please enter valid email address to continue. Even if that happens, it wont change how Woodruff feels about her. Newport Beach Hand Surgeon Rape Case Ruling Expected Next Week The wedding was gorgeous, Woodruffs daughter, who did not want her name used, told the Daily Beast. More women say surgeon drugged and raped them. This is not Cerissa, Sheryl Woodruff, Rileys former mother-in-law said. (Image credit: Audiochuck) By The Editors. Grant Robicheaux, left, and Cerissa Riley, the Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping multiple women, arrive at Orange County Superior Court Harbor Justice Center . CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones refused District Attorney Todd Spitzer's request to dismiss the case outright. "This case is a complete travesty," the woman told Ospino. [5] Spitzer believed that Rackauckas had used the case to gain positive media attention before the election for district attorney and stated he would move to have all charges filed by Rackauckas against Robicheaux and Riley dropped. She said a day before she had consensual sex with both defendants and that she went to a concert the next day with the doctor, and they both did cocaine, Fish wrote. Certainly, any prosecutor should think long and hard before dismissing such a case where multiple women have independently come forward and subjected themselves to the hard process of (baring) their souls to the authorities.. When Mr Rackauckas was overseeing the case, he incorrectly predicted that there could be as many as 1,000 victims. His ethnicity is White. The judge also noted that a victim can be so intoxicated to the point where she cannot resist, where she cannot consent or where she cannot withdraw prior consent. She used charm and good looks to disarm women, get them intoxicated, and then rape them at Robicheaux's apartment. Robicheaux and Riley celebrated what seemed to be their imminent freedom on national TV last week. New DA says he wants to drop charges against Robicheaux and Riley. The charges had initially involved five victims. [1], Robicheaux appeared in 2014 on the Bravo show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, which followed his search for a girlfriend. The woman said she had trouble recalling everything that happened, but she was able to dissuade Robicheaux from engaging in a particular sex act, but that she did not resist overall because she was afraid of angering the pair, Fish wrote. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University in 2007 and did his residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. But former district attorney Rackauckas denied Spitzers claim that he used the case for political gain. Grant and Cerissas lives were destroyed by the prior administrations misuse of the justice system, Ferlauto, the couples attorney, said. An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday granted a. Robicheaux and Riley told Good Morning America they participated in a swingers lifestyle. A judge in Orange County, California, has approved a request to drop almost all counts against a surgeon and his girlfriend who have been accused of drugging and raping multiple women. 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Mr Spitzer, who was campaigning against Mr Rackauckas at the time, accused the district attorney of delaying the couple's arrest to drum up media coverage, which he alleged would help his opponent's campaign. Robicheaux 'Rape Doctor' Case Gets True Crime Podcast Treatment American surgeon accused of sexual assault, Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, "Surgeon who appeared on reality TV dating show is accused of sexual assault and preying on drugged women", "Former Bravo Reality TV Star Surgeon Accused Of Drugging, Raping Women Gets Charges Reduced Update", "Six Women Said A Wealthy California Surgeon Raped Them. / KCAL News. The couple was living very happily before they were arrested. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? This document was the final determination of a personnel investigation into whether an investigator included all pertinent exculpatory information in her police reports.. At one time, Robicheaux was charged with harming seven victims and Riley with five. They said the portrait authorities painted of Riley as a predator clashed with their memory of the choreographeran Evangelical Christian who went abroad to spread the word of God, performing street-corner skits to attract potential converts. The judge also ordered discovery to be turned over to the alleged victims attorneys so that we could evaluate the facts of the case, which, quite frankly, we havent had access to at this stage of the game, Fell said. Ultimately, they determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Orange County Dist. The then-district attorney admitted that media attention would help his re-election but denied making any decisions based on his political aspirations. last . Matt Murphy, a former prosecutor in the district attorneys office who is representing four women who have accused Robicheaux and Riley of assaulting them, said Thursday that no one from the attorney generals office has reached out to the women. And they said Riley played an important role. Adam E. Chaikin, an attorney for the Assn. Judge drops nearly all charges against reality TV star surgeon who It was never a question, Robicheaux said. The judge said he would rule by April 3, CNN affiliate KTLA reported. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), OC Superior Court - Photo courtesy of the OC Courts' website. The couple were charged of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense. Fish noted that according to the police reports, illicit drugs were alleged to be at the residence in April of 2016 and again in July of 2017 and that Robicheaux himself said the home was used as a place to `party and sleep it off., One woman told police she met Robicheaux and Riley while drinking at a bar in Newport Beach and that despite being an experienced drinker, she became intoxicated beyond the level she expected given what she drank, according to the ruling. The new charges will involve downsizing the cases to at least two alleged . ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. According to prosecutors, Mr Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured women into their lives, drugged them and raped them. Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed at least 13 alleged victims. If the judge decides to grant the prosecutors wishes, the state will move its focus to an incident that happened in April 2017. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. [1] The case gained international attention because Rackauckas implied that there were up to one thousand victims. View more / View fewer Facts of Grant Robicheaux. Robicheaux and Riley speak out after a prosecutor said he would drop charges. Back in September of 2018, Robicheaux and Riley were charged with 17 counts each, including rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia, assault with intent to commit sexual offense and possession of a controlled substance for sale. LAGUNA BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 17: Dr. Grant Robicheaux, and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley listen during their arraignment at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, CA on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Grant is not married yet but he is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley. They slept in these tents; they were camping; they would all sleep in those rooms with bunk bedshostels. Its completely unfair to the victims in this case.. Did you encounter any technical issues? All Rights Reserved. He cited the politics interjected into the case in a tense election between Spitzer and his predecessor, Tony Rackauckas. [1] On September 6, 2018, the Newport Beach Police turned the investigation over to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. She ran to the bathroom and locked herself inside until the morning. State prosecutors told an Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday that they plan to move forward with a case against a Newport Beach surgeon and his girlfriend, centering it on sexual assault allegations lodged by two women. She grew up in Orange County and got her start as an intern at the Orange County Register. I texted her the other day, Woodruff said. Robicheauxs girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 34, was originally charged with five assaults. They also seized Robicheauxs phone and uncovered more than 1,000 videos of sexual encounters with women, some of whom may have been too intoxicated to consent. [1] The woman stated that they drank alcohol together at a Newport Beach bar until the alleged victim was unconscious. Rackauckas said the victims in video appeared highly intoxicated, "beyond the ability to consent or resist," and that the women were barely responsive to sexual advances by Robicheaux and Riley. Dr Grant Robicheaux, 38, was charged alongside his girlfriend Cerissa Laura Riley for allegedly drugging and raping two intoxicated women on Wednesday Orange County officials have said there. Riverside County Firefighters Stop Forward Progress of Brush Fire in Thermal, Walk to End Genocide Held Sunday In Fairfax District, Asian Couple in Bel Air Terrorized in Home Invasion Robbery, Police Arrest 24 During DUI Checkpoint in Riverside, Coroner IDs Man Who Jumped or Fell From Freeway Overpass. Woman who accused Newport Beach doctor of rape asks judge not to The review of the case by the D.A.s office came under scrutiny during a personnel investigation into a district attorney investigator, Jennifer Kearns. We believe there may be many unidentified victims out there, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said this week. That woman said she met the defendants at a bar, and at some point she felt as if she blacked out at the bar and awoke later on the floor of the residence associated with the defendants and remembers a man hitting her in the face and someone else kicking her in the head, Fish wrote. [1] In 2013, Robicheaux was named "Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor" by Orange Coast Magazine. Robicheaux and Riley, a former schoolteacher, were initially charged in 2018 by Spitzers predecessor, Tony Rackauckas. If convicted on all counts, Riley faces up to 30 years in state prison; Robicheaux could . "O.C. Swingers" Is Your New Favorite Chill-Inducing Podcast 38-Years-Old, Grant Robicheaux is an orthopedic surgeon in Newport Beach, Calif. The couple have pleaded not guilty and have denied any nonconsensual sex. Former Bravo Reality TV Star Surgeon Accused Of Drugging - Yahoo Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Before her arrest, Riley worked three different jobssales agent by day, dance instructor by night, and substitute teacher when she could pick up a shift. They agreed to meet in person at a Newport Beach restaurant, with Riley joining them and posing as a friend. Later, at his home, she did more drugs with him, including ketamine, and when they attempted to have sex he could not do so, the judge wrote. CBS Los Angeles reported that Grant Robicheaux, who was once the subject of a Bravo reality show for his dating escapades, was originally accused by seven women of rape and sexual assault. In 2019, shortly after Spitzer took over as the countys top prosecutor, he assigned two deputy district attorneys to conduct a review of all the evidence collected in the case. At the same time, prosecutors asked to dismiss three firearms enhancements against Robicheaux and Riley and to reduce four felony charges of drug possession for sale to misdemeanors. She grew up in Orange County and got her start as an intern at the Orange County Register. Defense attorney Philip Cohen, who is representing Robicheaux, declined to comment on the memo. The top-to-bottom review of the case against Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 33, ordered by Spitzer was "incomplete and contained inaccurate and misleading information," according to . Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register Via AP, Days Of Our Lives Star Victoria Grace Withdraws From Daytime Emmys Nominations After Huge Misunderstanding Regarding The Rules, Mike Shannon Dies: Emmy-Winning Broadcaster For St. Louis Cardinals Was 83, Legal Battle Over Guitarist Johnny Winters Music Heats Up, Stanley Tucci Talks About His Oral Cancer Battle: I Had A Feeding Tube For Six Months, Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, The Issues, The Stakes, Movies & TV Shows Affected, How Long It Might Last, Netflix Lands Adam McKays New Comedy Average Height, Average Build, Plumbs Another Domestic Win At $38M; Karting Past $1 Billion Global, Serious Moments For Media Give Way To Satire & Mirth; Biden & Wood Remarks. [1] Rackauckas also stated that there were additional videos, saying, "There are a substantial number of videos. Its hard for them to make these reports about things that were so very humiliating in the first place then have to relive the pain, he said. 2. She told police someone was filming the incident. She said that when she went to their home, she was so drunk she needed help to get inside and that she was given an unknown powder and pill by Robicheaux, which relaxed her and made her drowsy, Fish wrote. Gen. Yvette Martinez said her office is still reviewing documents to ensure theyve received all evidence in the case. Prosecutors expect to move forward in doctor drug-rape case Atty. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Judge scales back rape case against Newport Beach doctor and girlfriend Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The couple have pleaded not guilty and denied any nonconsensual sex. Convoluted Case Against Reality Show Doctor, Girlfriend Continues The judge in the case had asked the state to file a brief explaining why it planned to dismiss certain charges before he made a decision. An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that investigators met their burden for probable cause when they obtained a 2018 search warrant in their investigation of a Newport Beach hand surgeon and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping multiple women. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! The case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, has been reassigned to Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Ospino, a former Orange County public defender, following the. Another judge at the time said he would refuse to drop the charges, calling Mr Spitzer's decision "ludicrous" and questioning the district attorney's possible motives for the move. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Surgeon who appeared on reality TV dating show is accused of sexual assault and preying on drugged women, conduct a review of all the evidence collected in the case. They May Never Get Their Day In Court", "Judge scales back charges against Orange County doctor, girlfriend in sex assault case", "A Wealthy Surgeon Accused Of Drugging And Raping Women Is No Longer Facing Rape Charges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grant_Robicheaux&oldid=1151980723, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 12:26. [1], On October 2, 2016, a woman screamed for help and one of Robicheaux's neighbor called the Newport Beach Police Department. Robicheaux received his medical degree from Louisiana State University and completed his residency at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. In 2019, shortly after Todd Spitzer took over as the countys top prosecutor, he assigned two deputy district attorneys to conduct a review of all the evidence collected in the case. The facts have to be viewed in their totality. One alleged victim told Ospino she was "exhausted" by the twists and turns in the case over the past three years, including the recent surprise decision by Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven Bromberg to recuse himself from the case. The move means Dr. Grant Robicheaux, who starred on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, and Cerissa Riley are now facing charges involving only. The agency launched a probe into Kearns actions and, as part of that inquiry, investigators concluded the review Spitzer ordered had been lacking. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. Both Riley and Robicheaux were freed on $100,000 bail, and return to court on Oct. 25 for an arraignment. Grant Robicheaux Rape Case Sees Almost All Victims Dropped - BuzzFeed News of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, wrote in an email to Walters in October that the directive probably intimidates Kearns from sharing necessary details about the case with prosecutors without fear of reprimand. A previous motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. On Friday, the judge in the case asked the state to file a brief explaining why it plans to dismiss certain charges before he makes a decision. There is not a single piece of evidence or video or photo that shows an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted, said Spitzer, the new prosecutor. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Early life and education In the early 2010s, Riley, who had a creative streak, joined Hook, a missionary performance group that put on short, religious skits. However, after considering Spitzer's request, in June of 2020 OC Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones announced that he would not dismiss the charges. Fry most recently covered breaking news for The Times and was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. The pair have both pleaded not guilty to the amended charges. But instead of granting that motion, as many expected, the judge took it under submission and allowed more time for all parties to present more facts, Fell said. In that incident, Robicheaux allegedly began chatting with the woman on a dating app. They have both pleaded not guilty and have denied that anything that happened was not consensual. The request, however, was denied by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! We are conducting a very thorough and independent review of the case, Martinez said. City News Service , News Partner Posted Fri, Aug 20, 2021 . Ms. Riley could spend 30 years behind bars. Ospino indicated he intends to rule next week on the prosecutors request to pare down the charges. If they were convicted of the charges, Dr. Robicheaux faces up to 40 years in prison. In January, police obtained a search warrant for the couples residence and found large quantities of illegal narcotics, including date-rape drugs, ecstasy, and cocaine, along with unregistered firearms, high quantity magazines, and some assault weapons, prosecutors said. At the time, then-Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said that Robicheaux and Riley would meet their victims at local bars and restaurants, drug them and then take them home and sexually assault them. The unusual move came after a prosecutor pointed out serious proof problems with the case, Spitzer said at the time.
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