He along with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley has been charged with drugging and then sexually assaulting two women. The then-district attorney admitted that media attention would help his re-election but denied making any decisions based on his political aspirations. 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. 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. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley will return to court to see how charges will be amended in their drug and rape case. The request, however, was denied by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. last . "This case is a complete travesty," the woman told Ospino. 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. 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. 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 the memo. Atty. 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 . Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. 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. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 34, were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. The woman said she was given another powdery substance by Robicheaux and felt paralyzed and fell asleep, and she reported what happened to police because she felt she was drugged, Fish wrote. He along with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley has been charged with drugging and then sexually assaulting two women. Rackauckas said he believed the womens complaints based on the evidence he had. After the request was granted, only the charges stemming from two alleged victims are still intact. Clint McCall to Chief Paul M. Walters, who leads the investigative bureau at the district attorneys office. The couple was living very happily before they were arrested. Things got weird fast, Opinion: California wants more psychiatric detentions. Robicheaux, who was featured in an episode of Bravos Online Dating Rituals of the American Male in 2014, had his medical license suspended and lost his job. Thats unlikely to improve anyones mental health, Opinion: Why my Taiwanese American identity has become more complicated, 7 hospitalized after driver in stolen car runs red light in San Bernardino, police say, Barstow police investigating after officer caught on video hitting man with a baton, Northern California town on edge after second fatal stabbing in a week. Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting seven women, while Riley was charged with five. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. 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. 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. EARLIER: Prosecutors said Friday that intend to go forward with a new complaint charging a former reality star and his girlfriend. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. The daughter, who had known Riley since they were in elementary school, described her as a top student always involved in extracurricular activities. [1] In 2013, Robicheaux was named "Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor" by Orange Coast Magazine. ), 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. California Woman who accused Newport Beach doctor of rape asks judge not to dismiss charges Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, who are charged with drugging and sexually. Originally Mr Robicheaux faced 16 felony charges from the victims, and Ms Riley faced five charges. She used charm and good looks to disarm women, get them intoxicated, and then rape them at Robicheauxs apartment. [1] The case gained international attention because Rackauckas implied that there were up to one thousand victims. It was never a question, Robicheaux said. Both Riley and Robicheaux were freed on $100,000 bail, and return to court on Oct. 25 for an arraignment. The new charge would involve two women instead of the previous five. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? It took us a year of planning.. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley initially were charged with drugging and raping seven women. appreciated. They went to help the homeless, to give back to the community, Rileys ex-sister-in-law said. SANTA ANA (CBSLA) In the latest chapter in an ongoing sexual assault case which has seen a series of twists and turns, an Orange County Superior Court judge Thursday approved a request to reduce the charges against a Newport Beach surgeon and his girlfriend. 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. 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. 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. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. The high-profile case has been embroiled in controversy since it began two years ago when then-Orange County Dist. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Police say she helped her reality-TV star boyfriend drug and sexually assault women. Ultimately, they determined there was insufficient evidence. Both had denied any wrong doing. 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. The agency launched a probe into Kearns actions and, as part of that inquiry, investigators concluded the review Spitzer ordered had been lacking. In April of that year, a woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe 1, reported to Newport Beach Police that Riley and Robicheaux met her at a bar, invited her to a party, took her back to their apartment and forced her to participate in sexual acts when she was intoxicated beyond the ability to consent. 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. A representative for the attorney generals office could not immediately be reached for further comment. City News Service contributed to this report. Then the case took a bizarre turn last week when a new prosecutor said he would drop charges against the California couple citing insufficient evidence and claiming the previous DA used the case for political gain. Then something changed, Dating in L.A. is exhausting, so I asked a chatbot to flirt for me. Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed at least 13 alleged victims. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. However, in February of 2020, new O.C. CNN First they were accused of drugging and raping women while recording their exploits on a cell phone. (Image credit: Audiochuck) By The Editors. Robicheauxs girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 34, was originally charged with five assaults. 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. Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting seven women, with Riley charged with five assaults. Still cant believe this happened to us, Robicheaux said. [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. 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. Usually Hooks performances were local, but in the early 2010s Riley and her ex-husband made several missionary trips abroad to Budapest, Hungary. Sign up here for our free newsletters. 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. Updated 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 . Instead, Jones removed the district attorneys office from the case and ordered it be turned over to the California attorney generals office. [1] The District Attorney filed charges on September 11, 2018, and detectives arrested Robicheaux and Riley on September 12, 2018. 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. Over the past three years of the case, the lawsuit has been subject to political infighting between the former and current district attorney. Dist. 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. Were trying to be cooperative, but Ive got to tell you nobody from the AGs office has talked to my clients, he said during the hearing. [1] She says that Robicheaux and Riley then brought her to Robicheauxs apartment and began sexually assaulting her. And they said Riley played an important role. We want to hear from you! First they were accused of drugging and raping women while recording their exploits on a cell phone. 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. If convicted on all counts, Riley faces up to 30 years in state prison; Robicheaux could see up to 40. 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. 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. That case was bolstered by new allegations that drugs were used in that attack. When Mr Rackauckas was overseeing the case, he incorrectly predicted that there could be as many as 1,000 victims. I never made a single decision or statement about the case for any political motive, Rackauckas said in the statement to CNN last week. At one point the California Attorney General's Office took over the case from the Orange County District Attorney's Office after it determined that District Attorney Todd Spitzer and Tony Rackauckas, a political rival and his predecessor, used the case to further their own political ambitions. However, prosecutors told Judge Frank Ospino on Friday that they now intend to move forward with two of the original seven women whom Grant Robicheaux, 40, was accused of sexually assaulting. O.C. The group later went to a bar, and prosecutors allege the alleged victims drinks were drugged. City News Service contributed to this report. I feel like I can breathe again.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The district attorney says photos from the surgeons phone indicate there could be many more unidentified victims. A judge in Orange County heard arguments from attorneys for the couple and for the alleged victims and prosecutors last week, after which one alleged victim said they were "exhausted" by the thought the case could take years to prosecute. Grant was born in California in the year 1976. 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. Before that, Orange Coast Magazine named him a 2013 bachelor of the year. 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. But they insisted none of the women theyd had a sexual relationship with were too inebriated to consent. 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. Officials also determined that Kearns should receive additional training on report writing. ), First published on August 26, 2021 / 11:22 AM. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. 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. 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. Both Cerissa and Chad came from deeply religious Christian families, according to Woodruff. 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.'. Grant Robicheaux is an American surgeon who appeared on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. Prosecutors say a California dance instructor was one half of a serial date-rape team who would make targets feel comfortable and safe and then help her doctor boyfriend drug and sexually assault them. The second defendant, being a female, is key, Rackaukas said. 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. The memo and the internal divisions it highlights mark another twist in a case thats been embroiled in controversy for the last two years. UPDATE: A California physician who has been accused of drugging and assaulting two women is a graduate of Lafayette High School. The couple. The couple were charged of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense. Charges relating to two of the women were dropped in July at request of the alleged victims, according to BuzzFeed News. She told police someone was filming the incident. They have both pleaded not guilty and have denied that anything that happened was not consensual. However, after considering Spitzer's request, in June of 2020 OC Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones announced that he would not dismiss the charges. Orange County DA Tony Rackauckas says charges have been brought against Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, US teen receives more than $9m in scholarship offers, Tucker Carlson was caught making inappropriate comments about postmenopausal fans, Fed's Powell was tricked by fake call from Russia pranksters, Nearly all charges dropped against surgeon who allegedly raped women, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, 50 off over 650 using this Expedia discount code, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected product with this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Spitzer, who had accused his predecessor of overreaching in the case to bolster his reelection campaign, sought to dismiss all charges against the couple. 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 review of the case by the D.A.s office came under scrutiny during a personnel investigation into a district attorney investigator, Jennifer Kearns. Spitzer accused his predecessor of overreaching on the case to bolster his reelection campaign and moved to have the charges dropped. 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. There is also video evidence suggests that there could be hundreds of other women who may not realize they were victims. I told her, Youll always be my daughter-in-law. Did you encounter any technical issues? Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The Times reviewed a redacted copy of the memo, which was filed in court Thursday. Grant and Cerissas lives were destroyed by the prior administrations misuse of the justice system, Ferlauto, the couples attorney, said. Spitzers review of the case came under scrutiny during a personnel investigation into an investigator at the district attorneys office, Jennifer Kearns. According to prosecutors, Mr Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured women into their lives, drugged them and raped them. 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. A previous motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. A judge approved a request on Thursday to drop most of the case against a man and his girlfriend who were accused of drugging and raping multiple women, paring it down to charges related to just two alleged victims.. 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 . Robicheaux received his medical degree from Louisiana State University and completed his residency at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. [1], Robicheaux appeared in 2014 on the Bravo show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, which followed his search for a girlfriend. His workplace is just 45 miles south of Los Angeles at Newport Beach. The Newport Beach surgeon who once appeared on a cable-network reality show pleaded not guilty, along with his girlfriend, to charges of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women in attacks that were allegedly recorded on cell phone video.Photo by Paul Bersebach/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images). This is not Cerissa, Sheryl Woodruff, Rileys former mother-in-law said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. All Rights Reserved. Weeks later, Bromberg recused himself from the case following allegations that he had mistreated defense attorneys and prosecutors during a heated court hearing. [1] Following the charges, the California Medical Board opened an investigation into Robicheaux's conduct. My client believes in her heart of hearts that she was the victim of sexual assault, said attorney Michael Fell, who represents a woman known as Jane Doe #4. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley are shown outside an Orange County courthouse in 2018. The case was reassigned to the California Attorney General's Office last year after O.C. After Riley and Dr. Grant Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon who starred briefly on The Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, were charged with attacking two women, others came forward with similar allegations. Grant is not married yet but he is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley. 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. Grant Robicheaux and Ceriss Riley appear outside of court on Wendesday, October 17, 2018. drop charges against the California couple. 2. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives destroyed by the allegations, their lawyer said. conduct a review of all the evidence collected in the case. More women say surgeon drugged and raped them. 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. During a pretrial hearing Thursday, Deputy Atty. She sings beautifully, Woodruff said. Last month, Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven Bromberg dismissed charges related to allegations lodged by two of the seven women after they told prosecutors they had been dragged through the mud by the Orange County district attorneys office and no longer wanted to participate in the case. 9:18 AM EST, Tue February 11, 2020, Rape charges against reality TV surgeon to be dropped. 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. 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. 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. Hannah Fry is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. Ms. Riley could spend 30 years behind bars. 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. 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. 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. [1] He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. The motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Even though the prosecution and defense actually agree in this case, the judge isnt so certain. The idea was to have something odd happening, so people who were down and out, like homeless people, would stop and they would have a chance to evangelize.. Supervisor, defeated Rackauckas in the DA's race in November of 2018. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives " destroyed. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?

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