She sings beautifully, Woodruff said. 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. A woman, or any participant, can limit or withdraw his/her consent at any time, Fish wrote. 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. At one time, Robicheaux was charged with seven victims and Riley with five. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. ), 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. [5][3] Later in 2020, the Attorney General of California took over prosecuting the case. [1], In a September 2018 press conference, the Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, stated that detectives had found a video of the sex acts with one of the victim. Rackauckas claimed investigators had about 1,000 of these videos on the suspects' phones. And that gives hope to some of the couples accusers. Later, at his home, she did more drugs with him, including ketamine, and when they attempted to have sex he could not do so, the judge wrote. 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. I feel like I can breathe again.. 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. [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. 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. If convicted on all counts, Riley faces up to 30 years in state prison; Robicheaux could . Swingers, journalist Justine Harman reexamines the case of Newport Beach surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley. Both Riley and Robicheaux were freed on $100,000 bail, and return to court on Oct. 25 for an arraignment. 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. Charges relating to two of the women were dropped in July at request of the alleged victims, according to BuzzFeed News. It took us a year of planning.. 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. He received media attention in 2018 after he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 34, were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. 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. The charges had initially involved five victims. The investigators findings were outlined in a memo sent in July from Cmdr. The request, however, was denied by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. Instead, Jones removed the district attorneys office from the case and ordered it be turned over to the California attorney generals office. Todd Spitzer announces in February that he plans to drop all charges against Newport Beach doctor Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley. The two saw each other just six months ago, when the young woman was acting in a play. Previously, he also appeared on an episode of the short-lived Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male in April 2014. 2. Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting seven women, while Riley was charged with five. She was a member of the Associated Students Board at their high schoolan important job, the daughter said, because she was entrusted with overseeing a part of the schools budget. Both Riley and Robicheaux were freed on $100,000 bail, and return to court on Oct. 25 for an arraignment. 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. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. [1], In February 2020, Todd Spitzer won the election for District Attorney, taking over Rackauckas's position. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Newport Beach surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his model girlfriend appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday after a judge recused himself from case as victims spoke about how they. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? No matter what.. Ospino indicated he intends to rule next week on the prosecutors request to pare down the charges. 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. DA Todd Spitzer held a shocking news conference in which he said that he had assigned new prosecutors to the case after he took office, and their review found no evidence of unconscious women being assaulted. 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. Originally Mr Robicheaux faced 16 felony charges from the victims, and Ms Riley faced five charges. The couple have pleaded not guilty and have denied any nonconsensual sex. The woman said the drugs felt different than any of the drugs she commonly used, according to the judge. A representative for the attorney generals office could not immediately be reached for further comment. The unusual move came after a prosecutor pointed out serious proof problems with the case, Spitzer said at the time. 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.. 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. The criminal charges against the pair stem from two alleged incidents in 2016. 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 . 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! March 31, 2021 In her new Audiochuck podcast, O.C. 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. Paul Anderson of City News Service contributed to this report. Things got weird fast, Opinion: California wants more psychiatric detentions. 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. Before that, Orange Coast Magazine named him a 2013 bachelor of the year. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? There is no such thing as advanced consent., Fish added, In any event, the consent arguments made by the defense do not detract from the finding made by the magistrate. The pair have both pleaded not guilty to the amended charges. Ultimately, they determined there was insufficient evidence. 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. Still cant believe this happened to us, Robicheaux said. Both Robicheaux and Riley have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and remain free on bail. Tony Rackauckas filed charges against Robicheaux and Riley, painting them as sexual predators who used their good looks to prey on vulnerable women, drug them and take them back to their Newport Beach home to sexually assault them. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Last February, after Mr Spitzer ousted Mr Rackauckas, he announced his intention to drop the charges against the couple and compelled prosecutors to apologise to the couple and question the claims of the victims. A woman purporting to be his girlfriend clearly played a significant role in disarming the victims, making them feel comfortable and safe.. She also said she saw Riley drink something from a contact case and thought it odd.. 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. Robicheauxs girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 34, was originally charged with five assaults. ), 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. Prosecutors alleged that Robicheaux, often with the help of his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, lured the women in, then drugged . [1] On September 6, 2018, the Newport Beach Police turned the investigation over to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. 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. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The memo and the internal divisions it highlights mark another twist in a case thats been embroiled in controversy for the last two years. She joined the newspaper in 2013 as a reporter for the Daily Pilot, a Times Community News publication. This internal memo was not a legal review of the evidence against Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley or their innocence or guilt, she said. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Your email address will not be published. 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 . In the early 2010s, Riley, who had a creative streak, joined Hook, a missionary performance group that put on short, religious skits. The group later went to a bar, and prosecutors allege the alleged victims drinks were drugged. Both had denied any wrong doing. During a pretrial hearing Thursday, Deputy Atty. [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. Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Riley, 34, will now face sexual assault charges involving two of the alleged victims. The case against the two began two years ago, withRobicheaux, 40, and Riley, 33, painted as sexual predators who preyed on vulnerable women. In an another alleged incident in October 2016, a womans loud screams spurred neighbors to call 911. Spitzer, who had accused his predecessor of overreaching in the case to bolster his reelection campaign, sought to dismiss all charges against the couple. She said that when she went to their home, she was so drunk she needed help to get inside and that she was given an unknown powder and pill by Robicheaux, which relaxed her and made her drowsy, Fish wrote. The following month, Spitzer's office was removed from the case and replaced by the California AG. Grant Robicheaux, left, and Cerissa Riley, the Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping multiple women, listen during a hearing in Orange County Superior Court on . Hannah Fry is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. Instead, Jones removed the district attorneys office from the case and ordered it be turned over to the California attorney generals office. They went to help the homeless, to give back to the community, Rileys ex-sister-in-law said. If they were convicted of the charges, Dr. Robicheaux faces up to 40 years in prison. Prosecutors have reportedly interviewed at least 13 alleged victims. If the judge decides to grant the prosecutors wishes, the state will move its focus to an incident that happened in April 2017. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Please enter valid email address to continue. [1] The case gained international attention because Rackauckas implied that there were up to one thousand victims. She used charm and good looks to disarm women, get them intoxicated, and then rape them at Robicheaux's apartment. 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. The case was reassigned to the California Attorney General's Office last year after O.C. Clint McCall to Chief Paul M. Walters, who leads the investigative bureau at the district attorneys office. Robicheaux was charged with sexually assaulting seven women, with Riley charged with five assaults. The net worth of Grant is still to get unfold yet. Then something changed, Dating in L.A. is exhausting, so I asked a chatbot to flirt for me. 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. 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. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Atty. Since charges were filed in September 2018, the couples lives have been in shambles, their attorney Thomas M. Ferlauto said. All allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley, the attorneys said. Edds said in a statement Thursday that the office has been cooperative with the state attorney general and has turned over all discovery in their possession. Also, the criminality addressed in this specific statute concentrates on the womans ability or capacity to give consent. H-O-O-K, Woodruff explained, it meant to hook peopleto hook people on these little skits.. He along with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley has been charged with drugging and then sexually assaulting two women. [1] In 2013, Robicheaux was named "Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor" by Orange Coast Magazine. 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. Usually Hooks performances were local, but in the early 2010s Riley and her ex-husband made several missionary trips abroad to Budapest, Hungary. 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 motion indicated that an independent review indicated that some allegations could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. 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.. Then, people would stop them on the street and ask, What are you doing? and they would get to talk to them about the word of God, Woodruff told the Daily Beast. 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. City News Service contributed to this report. CNNs Dakin Andone contributed to this report. [1] Robicheaux and Riley were each released on a $100,000 bail. In May, prosecutors made a request to dramatically scale back the criminal case, . We want to hear from you! The same day, the Orange County district attorneys office made a motion to dismiss the case in front of Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones. 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. [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.