Spitzers review of the case came under scrutiny during a personnel investigation into an investigator at the district attorneys office, Jennifer Kearns. Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Defense attorney Philip Cohen, who is representing Robicheaux, declined to comment on the memo. Spitzer announced that his office would request that charges against Robicheaux and Riley be dismissed after a review of the case found a lack of evidence and a mishandling of the case by the previous DA. The couple was living very happily before they were arrested. On January 9, 2018, police searched Robicheaux's home and found firearms and large quantities of illegal drugs, including the date rape drug gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, MDMA, and cocaine. Grant Robicheaux and Ceriss Riley appear outside of court on Wendesday, October 17, 2018. drop charges against the California couple. Early life and education The new charge would involve two women instead of the previous five. The case was reassigned to the California Attorney General's Office last year after O.C.
Convoluted Case Against Reality Show Doctor, Girlfriend Continues Atty.
Cerissa Riley, Arrested for Rapes With Dr. Grant Robicheaux, Was an Ospino indicated he intends to rule next week on the prosecutors request to pare down the charges. In court filings prosecutors have alleged Kearns omitted pertinent information from reports she wrote about the case and claimed she led a whisper campaign to exaggerate evidence in favor of prosecution. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University in 2007 and did his residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. Supervisor, defeated Rackauckas in the DA's race in November of 2018. She used charm and good looks to disarm women, get them intoxicated, and then rape them at Robicheauxs apartment. 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. Firefighters Discover Man's Body While Battling Apartment Fire in South L.A. Police Investigate No-Hit Shooting in Long Beach, Coroner Identifies Woman Found Dead Near Railroad Track in Carson, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Over three months, prosecutors looked at thousands of photographs and videos that had been taken from the couples computers, hundreds of hours of audio recordings, thousands of pages of documents and tens of thousands of text messages between Robicheaux and Riley spanning four years. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. All Rights Reserved. The high-profile case has been embroiled in controversy since it began two years ago when then-Orange County Dist. However, there are a . A Warner Bros.
Grant Robicheaux - Wikipedia If the judge decides to grant the prosecutors wishes, the state will move its focus to an incident that happened in April 2017. I just feel terrible for the women who had the courage to come forward and give their evidence to the authorities in this case, the former DA said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Robicheaux and Riley speak out after a prosecutor said he would drop charges. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley initially were charged with drugging and raping seven women.
Prosecutors expect to move forward in doctor drug-rape case In a daylong hearing last Thursday, Judge Frank Ospino heard arguments from attorneys for the alleged victims and defendants, as well as the prosecutors. She joined the newspaper in 2013 as a reporter for the Daily Pilot, a Times Community News publication. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, prosecutors painted the couple as sexual predators. However, in February of 2020, new O.C. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. The case against the two began two years ago, withRobicheaux, 40, and Riley, 33, painted as sexual predators who preyed on vulnerable women. 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. Things got weird fast, Opinion: California wants more psychiatric detentions. Grant was born in California in the year 1976. Spitzer, a longtime O.C. At the time, they said they didnt have enough evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt related to the other women who have accused the couple of drugging and raping them.
Woman who accused Newport Beach doctor of rape asks judge not to But they insisted none of the women theyd had a sexual relationship with were too inebriated to consent. Spitzer accused his predecessor, Rackauckas, of possible prosecutorial misconduct: sensationalizing the case and driving it forward as a publicity stunt to further his own re-election efforts.
Todd Spitzer sought to dismiss rape charges against a Newport Beach surgeon and his girlfriend last year based on a review of evidence in the case that a team of senior investigators in his office later found to be flawed, according to an internal memo. They have both pleaded not guilty and have denied that anything that happened was not consensual. The couple has been charged with more than half a dozen crimes, including rape by the use of drugs, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense and possession of a controlled substance for sale. However, after considering Spitzer's request, in June of 2020 OC Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones announced that he would not dismiss the charges. The two saw each other just six months ago, when the young woman was acting in a play.
Internal memo criticizes O.C. district attorney's review of Robicheaux 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. [1] He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Previously, he also appeared on an episode of the short-lived Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male in April 2014. The defense also argued the search warrant was stale, meaning it was sought too long after detectives responded to the claims of the women. Originally Mr Robicheaux faced 16 felony charges from the victims, and Ms Riley faced five charges. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? (Image credit: Audiochuck) By The Editors. Prosecutors asked to dismiss 10 sex crime charges involving six of Robicheauxs seven accusers. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. In their free time, the group would head out to Huntington Beach or Los Angeles, Rileys former in-laws said, and start performing on the street. 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. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The agency launched a probe into Kearns actions and, as part of that inquiry, investigators concluded the review Spitzer ordered had been lacking. I feel like I finally woke up from a bad nightmare, Riley told ABCs Good Morning America in an interview that aired Friday. Prosecutors alleged that Robicheaux, often with the help of his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured the women in, then drugged . A woman purporting to be his girlfriend clearly played a significant role in disarming the victims, making them feel comfortable and safe.. 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. The new charges will involve downsizing the cases to at least two alleged victims. CNNs Dakin Andone contributed to this report. The Times reviewed a redacted copy of the memo, which was filed in court Thursday. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives " destroyed. A previous motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. But the allegations against Cerissa Riley, 31, lodged this week in Orange County bewildered two people who have known her for years. Another woman in July 2017 told police she had been raped. 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. Attorneys for Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley argued that the warrant to search the residence at 202 44th St. for drugs and DNA should be quashed and anything found during the resulting search be deemed inadmissible. More women say surgeon drugged and raped them. 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. His workplace is just 45 miles south of Los Angeles at Newport Beach. Grant Robicheaux is an American surgeon who appeared on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. In May, prosecutors made a request to dramatically scale back the criminal case, .
Clint McCall to Chief Paul M. Walters, who leads the investigative bureau at the district attorneys office. Spitzer, who had accused his predecessor of overreaching in the case to bolster his reelection campaign, sought to dismiss all charges against the couple. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Surgeon was at one time the subject of Bravo reality TV show focused on his dating escapades, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The couple were charged of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. The charges had initially involved five victims. The agency launched a probe into Kearns actions and, as part of that inquiry, investigators concluded the review Spitzer ordered had been lacking. It was never a question, Robicheaux said. 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. They also contended that no crime was committed to justify the warrant.
Former Reality TV Star Surgeon Accused Of Rape Gets Charges - Deadline [4], In July 2021, a judge in the Orange County Superior Court dismissed charges related to two of the seven women who stated they no longer wanted to participate in the case and had been "dragged through the mud" by the Orange County District Attorney's office. Adam E. Chaikin, an attorney for the Assn. She also said she saw Riley drink something from a contact case and thought it odd.. Spitzer has ensured the attorney general has unrestricted access to all district attorney personnel to aid in its review of the case and to answer any questions or provide clarification, she said. Its completely unfair to the victims in this case.. "This case is a complete travesty," the woman told Ospino. Then something changed, Dating in L.A. is exhausting, so I asked a chatbot to flirt for me. Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting seven women, with Riley charged with five assaults. The motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Rackauckas claimed investigators had about 1,000 of these videos on the suspects' phones. 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. Since charges were filed in September 2018, the couples lives have been in shambles, their attorney Thomas M. Ferlauto said. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. View more / View fewer Facts of Grant Robicheaux. His ethnicity is White.
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. Your email address will not be published. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. Police who responded to the scene found she seemed heavily intoxicated, and when they tried to question her again moments later, she did not remember the initial interview, Fish wrote. Sign up here for our free newsletters. The new series follows the case of a Newport Beach orthopedic surgeon and his girlfriend, who are accused of drugging and assaulting multiple women.
Grant Robicheaux Rape Case Sees Almost All Victims Dropped - BuzzFeed News 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. The investigators findings were outlined in a memo sent in July from Cmdr. [1], In February 2020, Todd Spitzer won the election for District Attorney, taking over Rackauckas's position. 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. [1] In 2013, Robicheaux was named "Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor" by Orange Coast Magazine. We are conducting a very thorough and independent review of the case, Martinez said. Orange County Dist. D.A.'s office investigator Jennifer Kearns alleges in the lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court, that Spitzer colluded with Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley's defense attorneys while. Still cant believe this happened to us, Robicheaux said. / KCAL News. 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 .
Surgeon and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping up to a dozen Hannah Fry is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday granted a. 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. Six months later, police got a similar complaint after a woman who met the couple woke up in their apartment, and started to scream, prompting a neighbor who heard her cries to call 911, according to prosecutors. 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. [4] As of August 2021, Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting two women and Riley was charged with three alleged victims.[2][4][6]. Ospino also told attorneys that he wants to hold a preliminary hearing by the end of the year to determine whether the case, which has faced repeated delays, can proceed to trial. Grant Robicheaux, a surgeon once locally dubbed "bachelor of the year" and whose dating escapades were featured on a Bravo reality show, was originally accused by seven women of crimes including rape and sexual assault. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? His nationality is American. I feel like I can breathe again.. Grant is not married yet but he is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley. [2] In April 2016, a woman stated that she had met Robicheaux and Riley in a local restaurant in April 2016 and that they invited her to a party. Over three months, the prosecutors looked at thousands of photographs and videos that had been taken from the couples computers, hundreds of hours of audio recordings, thousands of pages of documents and tens of thousands of text messages between Robicheaux and Riley spanning a four-year period. If convicted on all counts, Riley faces up to 30 years in state prison; Robicheaux could . From . 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. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the case against the couple was fueled by his predecessor, Tony Rackauckas, trying to gain support for his re-election campaign. 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 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 two alleged victims. Charges relating to two of the women were dropped in July at request of the alleged victims, according to BuzzFeed News. The judge said he would rule by April 3, CNN affiliate KTLA reported. Over three months, prosecutors looked at thousands of photographs and videos that had been taken from the couple's computers, hundreds of hours of audio recordings, thousands of pages of documents. For three years, the case against the once-Bravo Reality television star, hand surgeon Grant Robicheaux, and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley have wreaked havoc on the Orange County court system. She grew up in Orange County and got her start as an intern at the Orange County Register. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Yearbooks from the school indicate Grant Robicheaux was a 1999 grad . 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. Discovery Company. The unusual move came after a prosecutor pointed out serious proof problems with the case, Spitzer said at the time. [5][3] Later in 2020, the Attorney General of California took over prosecuting the case. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. [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. Both Cerissa and Chad came from deeply religious Christian families, according to Woodruff. The attorney general, not this office, determines who state prosecutors talk to and when.. The woman said she told the couple she was having her period, in an effort to prevent them from initiating sex, but Robicheaux had sex with her after her clothes were taken off and Riley filmed part of it, Fish wrote. This is not the girl I know and have known since she and my son went to high school together., Woodruff first met Riley in the late 2000s, when she and her son, Chad, were in school together at Villa Park High School in Orange County. She told police someone was filming the incident. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Atty. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. I texted her the other day, Woodruff said. Officials also determined that Kearns should receive additional training on report writing.
She grew up in Orange County and got her start as an intern at the Orange County Register. Both Robicheaux and Riley have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and remain free on bail. 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.
Reduced Charges For Reality Doctor, Girlfriend: Newport Rape Case Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley are shown outside an Orange County courthouse in 2018. I never made a single decision or statement about the case for any political motive, Rackauckas said in the statement to CNN last week. The memo and the internal divisions it highlights mark another twist in a case thats been embroiled in controversy for the last two years. 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. He received media attention in 2018 after he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women.
Woman describes Tinder terror date with charged California surgeon The unusual move came after a prosecutor pointed out serious proof problems with the case, Spitzer said at the time. I didnt create this situation, but its my responsibility to fix it, Spitzer said. 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! During a pretrial hearing Thursday, Deputy Atty. 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. 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. [1] Rackauckas also stated that there were additional videos, saying, "There are a substantial number of videos. Ultimately, they determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 . Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 39, and Cerissa Riley, 32, of Newport Beach, appeared Friday in a taped interview on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I feel like I finally woke up from a bad nightmare .
Judge drops nearly all charges against reality TV star surgeon who Dist. The following month, Spitzer's office was removed from the case and replaced by the California AG. [1] The woman stated that they drank alcohol together at a Newport Beach bar until the alleged victim was unconscious. 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. [1] Robicheaux and Riley were each released on a $100,000 bail.
Judge scales back rape case against Newport Beach doctor and girlfriend The defendants actions of facilitating the victims excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs to ultimately prevent her from possessing the ability to resist sexual intercourse was the underlying motivation for their behavior, state prosecutors wrote in their motion. Then something changed, Dating in L.A. is exhausting, so I asked a chatbot to flirt for me.
A Wealthy Surgeon Accused Of Drugging And Raping Women Is No Longer The charges had initially involved five victims. The then-district attorney admitted that media attention would help his re-election but denied making any decisions based on his political aspirations. The two were high school sweethearts and got married not long after graduation. After the charges were dropped, Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven Bromberg recused himself from the case. UPDATE: A California physician who has been accused of drugging and assaulting two women is a graduate of Lafayette High School. At one time, Robicheaux was charged with seven victims and Riley with five. ), 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.
Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Swingers, journalist Justine Harman reexamines the case of Newport Beach surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley. 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 agreed to meet in person at a Newport Beach restaurant, with Riley joining them and posing as a friend. According to prosecutors, Mr Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured women into their lives, drugged them and raped them. 38-Years-Old, Grant Robicheaux is an orthopedic surgeon in Newport Beach, Calif. He along with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley has been charged with drugging and then sexually assaulting two women. Riley gave the woman a drink and the trio went to a bedroom, where the woman blacked out and later woke up next to Robicheaux, Fish wrote. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time.
The California surgeon and his girlfriend accused of drugging and - CNN Robicheaux received his medical degree from Louisiana State University and completed his residency at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. [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. [1], In 2018, Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women in Newport Beach, California. Ms. Riley could spend 30 years behind bars. The same day, the Orange County district attorneys office made a motion to dismiss the case in front of Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. The two were arrested at Dr. Robicheauxs home in Newport Beachon, southern California on September 12, 2018, and are accused of drugging, sexually assaulting and raping women. A representative for the attorney generals office could not immediately be reached for further comment. Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the district attorneys office, said the criticisms investigators voiced in the memo were not a denunciation of the entire review of the Robicheaux case.