CA - Orange County surgeon and partner accused of drugging, raping women, Sept. 2018

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California surgeon, girlfriend plead not guilty to drug, rape, kidnapping charges - CNN

A California surgeon who had been accused of drugging and raping two women was charged with five more cases Wednesday, bringing the total number of alleged victims to seven.

Grant Robicheaux, 38, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 31, was also charged in three additional cases, and pleaded not guilty.
...

Orange County prosecutors also added kidnapping charges against Robicheaux and Riley.

"Even if you willfully became intoxicated, or took drugs, no one gets a pass to sexually assault you once you are past the point of consent," stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
...

Prosecutors released details of each alleged incident going back almost a decade, all involving victims in their 20s or 30s:

Jane Doe 1. A woman met Robicheaux at a Newport Beach bar in September 2009 and went on a few dates with him. He is accused of raping her at his residence on Sept. 7 after she said she did not want to have sex. ...

Jane Doe 2. Robicheaux and Riley are accused of raping a woman on March 14, 2015, while she was prevented from resisting due to "intoxicating and controlled substances."

Jane Doe 3. In April 2016, >snip< ... prosecutors say, the couple invited the victim to a party and gave her drugs until she was "highly intoxicated." They then kidnapped her with the intent to rape her.

Jane Doe 4. On October 2, 2016, >snip< ... The woman said she woke to Robicheaux attempting to sexually assault her, and she screamed for help until a neighbor called police, who responded to the scene.

Jane Doe 5. On October 29, 2016, the couple met a woman at a Halloween party through a mutual acquaintance and put GHB in her drink >snip< ... She awoke during the alleged assault.

Jane Doe 6. >snip< ... they gave her drugs until she was highly intoxicated, the prosecutors' statement said. The woman told police she was eventually able to turn to the bathroom, where she locked herself until she could leave in the morning.

Jane Doe 7. Robicheaux and Riley met the seventh woman at a Fourth of July party last year, prosecutors say. She went to a party on a boat and drank with them. Robicheaux is accused of raping her at his residence while she was asleep.
​
(more details on 7 alleged victims at link)
​
 
She's ... a former teacher? :eek:

Newport Beach surgeon charged with drugging and raping 5 more women - Los Angeles Times

The surgeon is accused of three felony counts of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense, four counts of rape by use of drugs, two counts of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, a count of forcible rape, a count of oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale and two counts of possession of an assault weapon. Those charges could carry a sentence of more than 82 years in prison.

Many of the new charges against the doctor are linked to alleged incidents before he began dating Riley, a former teacher.

Riley is facing three counts of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense, three counts of rape by use of drugs, two counts of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, a count of oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance and four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale. She could get up to 63 years in prison.

More than a dozen women and one man have claimed they were attacked by Robicheaux, according to Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas.
​
 
Press Release

2019_website_header.PNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 18HF1291
Date: February 4, 2020

PRESS RELEASE
Kimberly Edds
Public Information Officer
Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-504-1917
media@da.ocgov.com

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer Announces Charges to be Dismissed
Against Newport Beach Surgeon and Girlfriend
Accused of Drugging, Sexually Assaulting Women
De Novo evidence does not support former District Attorney’s false fabrication that there were thousands of sexual videos of innocent victims; Rackauckas admits in sworn civil deposition to using case to help his re-election campaign

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced today that all criminal charges will be dropped against a 39-year-old Newport Beach orthopedic surgeon and reality television star Grant Robicheaux and his 33-year-old girlfriend Cerissa Riley who were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting seven women.

On September 11, 2018, former District Attorney Tony Rackauckas filed initial charges in People v. Robicheaux and Riley, eight months after a search warrant was executed on Robicheaux’s Newport Beach home. At the time the charges included assaults on two women.

Robicheaux was charged with nine felonies, including rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by use of anesthesia or a controlled substance, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale, and two counts of possession of an assault weapon. He was also charged with sentencing enhancements of personal use of a firearm during a health and safety code violation.

Riley was charged with seven felonies, including rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by use of anesthesia or a controlled substance, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, and four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale. She was also charged with knowingly vicariously armed with a firearm.

Robicheaux faced a maximum of 40 years in state prison if convicted of all charges. Riley faced a maximum of 30 years and eight months in state prison.

Over the next several weeks, Rackauckas held two press conferences in which he told members of the media investigators had recovered videos depicting up to 1,000 incapacitated women being sexually assaulted by Robicheaux and Riley. He urged additional victims to come forward and explained that women who had contact with the couple may not realize they were in fact victims.

The case received international media attention based on the revelation that up to a thousand women had been victimized.

On October 17, 2018, Rackauckas filed additional charges involving five additional women who came forward as a result of the intense media coverage on the case.

Robicheaux was charged with an additional eight felonies, including three counts of kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual offense, three additional counts of rape by the use of drugs, one additional count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, and one count of forcible rape.

Riley was charged with an additional six felonies, including three counts of kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual offense, two additional counts of rape by the use of drugs, one additional count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense.

Robicheaux and Riley both faced a maximum of life in state prison if convicted on all charges.

After Rackauackas admitted in a sworn deposition on June 19, 2019 that he had used the case to garner media attention to help his re-election campaign, Spitzer ordered a complete reevaluation of the case.

Two veteran sexual assault prosecutors were assigned to the top to bottom review of the case. Over three months, the two prosecutors reviewed every piece of evidence in the case.

The De Novo review included:
  • Thousands of photographs, videos, and chats from computers.
  • Hundreds of hours of audio recordings.
  • Thousands of pages of documents
  • Tens of thousands of text messages between the defendants over four years.
  • Thousands of text messages between defendants and others, including alleged victims.
  • Thousands of conversations on Bumble, Tinder, Facebook, and other social media services.
  • Hundreds of emails including from alleged victims, defendants, police, and potential leads.
  • Thousands of pages of transcripts of alleged victim interviews, witness interviews, and depositions.
Today, Spitzer announced that this exhaustive review revealed there was not a single video or photograph depicting an incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted by Robicheaux or Riley. In fact, the review revealed that there was not a single independent witness who came forward to say they saw the defendants sexually assault an unconscious woman.

A team of prosecutors with a combined 175 years of experience determined there is no provable evidence that Robicheaux and Riley committed any sexual offense.

“My sworn duty as the elected district attorney is not to secure convictions,” said Spitzer. “My sworn duty is to pursue justice and ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are protected.

The prior District Attorney and his chief of staff manufactured this case and repeatedly misstated the evidence to lead the public and vulnerable women to believe that these two individuals plied up to 1,000 women with drugs and alcohol in order to sexually assault them – and videotape the assaults.

As a result of the complete case review I ordered beginning in July, we now know that there was not a single video or photograph depicting an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted.

What the prior District Attorney and his chief of staff did to these defendants and to the women involved in this case is a travesty.

While I cannot undo the injustice that has already been done in this case, I can – and I will – continue to fulfill my legal and ethical obligations as the elected District Attorney of Orange County and dismiss all criminal charges against Dr. Grant William Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley.”

###
 
Last edited:
Hmmm. . . . fabricated evidence in civil lawsuit, too ? ? ? o_O
Hoping that the media provides an update on this case.
MAR 2019 article:
Civil Suit Against Newport Beach Doctor Accused of Sexual Assault on Hold Pending Criminal Case
POSTED 12:50 PM, MARCH 20, 2019, BY LOS ANGELES TIMES
An Orange County Superior Court judge on Tuesday agreed to a woman’s request to pause her civil lawsuit against a Newport Beach surgeon who she alleges drugged and raped her in 2016.

The plaintiff asked Judge Walter Schwarm to stay proceedings in the suit until the doctor’s related criminal case concludes.

Attorneys representing Dr. Grant Robicheaux, his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley . . . [...]
 
Grizzlyslueth said:
man, as if this wasn't weird from the jump already and to think 1,000 could be just the tip of the whole iceberg.
Click to expand...


It's not so weird if you live in Orange County and understand the level of corruption within the court and jail systems.

I can't say what the Doctor did or didn't do, but it wasn't what he was charged with by the former DA. It was a purely political move on his part and he just proceeded as if he hadn't a care in the world in his ruining so many lives. IF the doctor is innocent of criminal activity, it won't matter, because his career, and his life are damaged beyond repair.
 
Wow! From your link:

After Rackauackas admitted in a sworn deposition on June 19, 2019 that he had used the case to garner media attention to help his re-election campaign, Spitzer ordered a complete reevaluation of the case.

I hope the former DA is held personally responsible in a civil case. It is sad that the taxpayers will also have to pay for this.


SeesSeas said:
Press Release

2019_website_header.PNG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 18HF1291
Date: February 4, 2020

PRESS RELEASE
Kimberly Edds
Public Information Officer
Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-504-1917
media@da.ocgov.com

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer Announces Charges to be Dismissed
Against Newport Beach Surgeon and Girlfriend
Accused of Drugging, Sexually Assaulting Women
De Novo evidence does not support former District Attorney’s false fabrication that there were thousands of sexual videos of innocent victims; Rackauckas admits in sworn civil deposition to using case to help his re-election campaign

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced today that all criminal charges will be dropped against a 39-year-old Newport Beach orthopedic surgeon and reality television star Grant Robicheaux and his 33-year-old girlfriend Cerissa Riley who were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting seven women.

On September 11, 2018, former District Attorney Tony Rackauckas filed initial charges in People v. Robicheaux and Riley, eight months after a search warrant was executed on Robicheaux’s Newport Beach home. At the time the charges included assaults on two women.

Robicheaux was charged with nine felonies, including rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by use of anesthesia or a controlled substance, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale, and two counts of possession of an assault weapon. He was also charged with sentencing enhancements of personal use of a firearm during a health and safety code violation.

Riley was charged with seven felonies, including rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by use of anesthesia or a controlled substance, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, and four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale. She was also charged with knowingly vicariously armed with a firearm.

Robicheaux faced a maximum of 40 years in state prison if convicted of all charges. Riley faced a maximum of 30 years and eight months in state prison.

Over the next several weeks, Rackauckas held two press conferences in which he told members of the media investigators had recovered videos depicting up to 1,000 incapacitated women being sexually assaulted by Robicheaux and Riley. He urged additional victims to come forward and explained that women who had contact with the couple may not realize they were in fact victims.

The case received international media attention based on the revelation that up to a thousand women had been victimized.

On October 17, 2018, Rackauckas filed additional charges involving five additional women who came forward as a result of the intense media coverage on the case.

Robicheaux was charged with an additional eight felonies, including three counts of kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual offense, three additional counts of rape by the use of drugs, one additional count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense, and one count of forcible rape.

Riley was charged with an additional six felonies, including three counts of kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual offense, two additional counts of rape by the use of drugs, one additional count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense.

Robicheaux and Riley both faced a maximum of life in state prison if convicted on all charges.

After Rackauackas admitted in a sworn deposition on June 19, 2019 that he had used the case to garner media attention to help his re-election campaign, Spitzer ordered a complete reevaluation of the case.

Two veteran sexual assault prosecutors were assigned to the top to bottom review of the case. Over three months, the two prosecutors reviewed every piece of evidence in the case.

The De Novo review included:
  • Thousands of photographs, videos, and chats from computers.
  • Hundreds of hours of audio recordings.
  • Thousands of pages of documents
  • Tens of thousands of text messages between the defendants over four years.
  • Thousands of text messages between defendants and others, including alleged victims.
  • Thousands of conversations on Bumble, Tinder, Facebook, and other social media services.
  • Hundreds of emails including from alleged victims, defendants, police, and potential leads.
  • Thousands of pages of transcripts of alleged victim interviews, witness interviews, and depositions.
Today, Spitzer announced that this exhaustive review revealed there was not a single video or photograph depicting an incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted by Robicheaux or Riley. In fact, the review revealed that there was not a single independent witness who came forward to say they saw the defendants sexually assault an unconscious woman.

A team of prosecutors with a combined 175 years of experience determined there is no provable evidence that Robicheaux and Riley committed any sexual offense.

“My sworn duty as the elected district attorney is not to secure convictions,” said Spitzer. “My sworn duty is to pursue justice and ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are protected.

The prior District Attorney and his chief of staff manufactured this case and repeatedly misstated the evidence to lead the public and vulnerable women to believe that these two individuals plied up to 1,000 women with drugs and alcohol in order to sexually assault them – and videotape the assaults.

As a result of the complete case review I ordered beginning in July, we now know that there was not a single video or photograph depicting an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted.

What the prior District Attorney and his chief of staff did to these defendants and to the women involved in this case is a travesty.

While I cannot undo the injustice that has already been done in this case, I can – and I will – continue to fulfill my legal and ethical obligations as the elected District Attorney of Orange County and dismiss all criminal charges against Dr. Grant William Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley.”

###
Click to expand...
 
QueenBofOB said:
I just read on THE DAILY MAIL, that another judge (from what I gather, in a civil suit) has denied the request to dismiss. It sure sounds to ME, as though something happened and these two are guilty as sin.
Click to expand...

The judge wants to see all the evidence before he signs off on the dismissal. He wants to be comfortable with the conclusion that there's no chance of a conviction. At least that's what the local news here is saying.
 
Judge Considers Dismissing Rape Charges Against Reality Show Couple

February 7, 2020

(CN) – A California judge on Friday put off deciding whether to grant prosecutors’ request to drop criminal charges against a California surgeon and his girlfriend who are accused of drugging and sexually assaulting seven women after gaining fame appearing on a reality TV show.

According to a criminal complaint filed in 2018, Grant Robicheaux, 39, and Cerissa Riley, 32, of Newport Beach lured women to their home and used drugs and anesthesia to incapacitate and rape them. Then-Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas claimed at the time up to 1,000 women may have been harmed by the pair and urged victims to come forward.

Rackauckas’ office filed felony rape and drug charges after claiming a search warrant executed on Robicheaux’s home uncovered video evidence of thousands of women being sexually assaulted by the pair.

Robicheaux and Riley – who both appeared on the Bravo TV program “Online Dating Rituals of the American Male” – faced up to life in state prison if convicted on all charges.

But current Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said this week his office would move to drop all criminal charges after finding no evidence the pair drugged or sexually assaulted anyone.

At a hearing Friday before Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones, county prosecutors said a review of the case showed key video evidence of drugging and sexual assault didn’t exist and that the charges were politically motivated.

Jones said he will take prosecutors’ request into consideration as he reviews the evidence before making a decision on whether to grant dismissal of all charges against Robicheaux and Riley.

In a statement, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said it welcomes the chance to give the judge a complete briefing of the evidence in the case.

“Asking the court to agree to a motion to dismiss on already filed serious criminal charges is a great and important burden. Once filed, this is the court’s decision based on our request. I am more than pleased to share the evaluation of the entire case so that Judge Jones can do justice in his decision,” said Spitzer. “Judge Jones has been involved in this case from its inception and it is completely reasonable that he would want a thorough understanding of the facts.”

Spitzer said in a statement this week that investigators also determined that not a single independent witness came forward to claim they saw Robicheaux and Riley sexually assault any women.

“My sworn duty as the elected district attorney is not to secure convictions,” Spitzer said in the statement. “My sworn duty is to pursue justice and ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are protected.

Spitzer said he ordered a review of the case in July 2019 after Rackauckas acknowledged in a sworn deposition a month earlier that he had used the case to garner media attention to help his 2018 re-election campaign.

Spitzer – a former state lawmaker and member of the Orange County Board of Supervisor – defeated Rackauckas in a heated race in the region between Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

“The prior district attorney and his chief of staff manufactured this case and repeatedly misstated the evidence to lead the public and vulnerable women to believe that these two individuals plied up to 1,000 women with drugs and alcohol in order to sexually assault them – and videotape the assaults,” Spitzer’s office said in a statement.

Judge Considers Dismissing Rape Charges Against Reality Show Couple
 
SuziQ said:
Wow! From your link:

After Rackauackas admitted in a sworn deposition on June 19, 2019 that he had used the case to garner media attention to help his re-election campaign, Spitzer ordered a complete reevaluation of the case.

I hope the former DA is held personally responsible in a civil case. It is sad that the taxpayers will also have to pay for this.
Click to expand...

I would like to see the actual deposition. I read an article that he said yes when he was asked if he thought the case would help his reelection. That's not an admission that he did it for reelection purposes.
 
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