Still cant believe this happened to us, Robicheaux said. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. She said the investigators reached their conclusions about the case review while looking into alleged misconduct by a district attorneys office employee who was involved in the Robicheaux case and based their findings on a small part of the case review. Hannah Fry is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. 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. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives " destroyed. Those shortcomings led prosecutors for Spitzer to make arguments in court for why the charges against the couple should be tossed out that contained numerous unsupported allegations, misstatements, untruths, and factually wrong conclusions, McCall wrote in the memo. This internal memo was not a legal review of the evidence against Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley or their innocence or guilt, she said. Updated They argued that a detective misled a magistrate judge about the evidence and circumstances. Adam E. Chaikin, an attorney for the Assn. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives destroyed by the allegations, their lawyer said. We believe there may be many unidentified victims out there, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said this week. Please reload the page and try again. In a joint statement, the couples lawyers denied the charges. But Riley and Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon and former reality TV show personality, arent guaranteed freedom. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. 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. ), First published on August 26, 2021 / 11:22 AM. Did you encounter any technical issues? Judge dismisses some charges in rape case against California doctor and 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. Gen. Yvette Martinez said her office is still reviewing documents to ensure theyve received all evidence in the case. 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! Robicheauxs girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 34, was originally charged with five assaults. 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. Judge scales back rape case against Newport Beach doctor and girlfriend In the early 2010s, Riley, who had a creative streak, joined Hook, a missionary performance group that put on short, religious skits. According to the state attorney general's office, at least three victims said they no longer wanted to partake in the case because they were "dragged through the mud" but the Orange County district attorney's office. No matter what.. 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.. And, they would go for months at a time. In 2014, Rileys husband left her, leaving her broken, her ex-sister-in-law said, adding, She had to learn how to live without someone shes known for years.. 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. 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 new charges will involve downsizing the cases to at least two alleged . He cited the politics interjected into the case in a tense election between Spitzer and his predecessor, Tony Rackauckas. Former Reality TV Star Surgeon Accused Of Rape Gets Charges - Deadline 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. Robicheaux received his medical degree from Louisiana State University and completed his residency at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed at least 13 alleged victims. The new charge would involve two women instead of the previous five. This is not Cerissa, Sheryl Woodruff, Rileys former mother-in-law said. The unusual move came after a prosecutor pointed out serious proof problems with the case, Spitzer said at the time. [5] In June 2020, Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones refused to drop the charges against Robicheaux and Riley and said both Rackauckas and Spitzer had used the case against each other while campaigning. We are conducting a very thorough and independent review of the case, Martinez said. 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The two saw each other just six months ago, when the young woman was acting in a play. [1] The District Attorney filed charges on September 11, 2018, and detectives arrested Robicheaux and Riley on September 12, 2018. This document was the final determination of a personnel investigation into whether an investigator included all pertinent exculpatory information in her police reports.. 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. In court filings, prosecutors have alleged that 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. Got a tip? Woman who accused Newport Beach doctor of rape asks judge not to Couple speaks out after charges of victimizing female - YouTube He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University in 2007 and did his residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. The wedding was gorgeous, Woodruffs daughter, who did not want her name used, told the Daily Beast. The couple. The criminal charges against the pair stem from two alleged incidents in 2016. 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. Rackauckas said he believed the womens complaints based on the evidence he had. [1], In 2018, Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women in Newport Beach, California. CNNs Dakin Andone contributed to this report. UPDATE: Surgeon accused of multiple rapes is LHS grad - KATC last . I texted her the other day, Woodruff said. Investigator sues Orange County DA, alleging sabotage in sex - KTLA Discovery Company. Robicheaux 'Rape Doctor' Case Gets True Crime Podcast Treatment A representative for the attorney generals office could not immediately be reached for further comment. 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 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. Orange County judge grants motion to dismiss charges for 2 alleged They have been aware of these accusations for a number of months, and each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court.. Even though the prosecution and defense actually agree in this case, the judge isnt so certain. [1] The woman immediately contacted the police the next morning to report that she had been assaulted and a subsequent test of her blood showed multiple controlled substances in her body. 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. They slept in these tents; they were camping; they would all sleep in those rooms with bunk bedshostels. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? H-O-O-K, Woodruff explained, it meant to hook peopleto hook people on these little skits.. The investigators findings were outlined in a memo sent in July from Cmdr. 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. 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 . 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. At one time, Robicheaux was charged with harming seven victims and Riley with five. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 34, were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. However, there are a . Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. 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. [1], In February 2020, Todd Spitzer won the election for District Attorney, taking over Rackauckas's position. The two were high school sweethearts and got married not long after graduation. 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. 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. 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. Sign up here for our free newsletters. Grant is not married yet but he is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley. 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. 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 new complaint would also reportedly modify drug charges in the case to more accurately reflect the allegations, they said. The details about of Grant is not published in the sites and will be updated soon on his body features. Before that, Orange Coast Magazine named him a 2013 bachelor of the year. 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. 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. Grant Robicheaux is an American surgeon who appeared on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. 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. We want to hear from you! Former reality TV show doctor Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley speak out about the charges that were dropped after an investigation by the n. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Dist. 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. 2. Even if that happens, it wont change how Woodruff feels about her. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? [5][3] Later in 2020, the Attorney General of California took over prosecuting the case. Another woman in July 2017 told police she had been raped. The facts have to be viewed in their totality. Prosecutors alleged that Robicheaux, often with the help of his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured the women in, then drugged . According to prosecutors, Mr Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured women into their lives, drugged them and raped them. 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 . And they said Riley played an important role. The pair have both pleaded not guilty to the amended charges. The following month, Spitzer's office was removed from the case and replaced by the California AG. Grant and Cerissas lives were destroyed by the prior administrations misuse of the justice system, Ferlauto, the couples attorney, said. 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. O.C. City News Service contributed to this report. Rackauckas claimed investigators had about 1,000 of these videos on the suspects' phones. 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. 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. If the judge decides to grant the prosecutors wishes, the state will move its focus to an incident that happened in April 2017. New DA says he wants to drop charges against Robicheaux and Riley. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Grant Robicheaux is an American surgeon who appeared on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. 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. If convicted on all counts, Riley faces up to 30 years in state prison; Robicheaux could see up to 40. 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. 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. It was never a question, Robicheaux said. The second defendant, being a female, is key, Rackaukas said. All allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley, the attorneys said. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley are shown outside an Orange County courthouse in 2018. 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. 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). Police say she helped her reality-TV star boyfriend drug and sexually assault women. [3] Later, Rackauckas said that he had been misunderstood, that he did not mean to suggest there were up to one thousand victims, and that they were instead reviewing up to one thousand videos of possible victims. Spitzer, a longtime O.C. But the allegations against Cerissa Riley, 31, lodged this week in Orange County bewildered two people who have known her for years.