An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday granted a. I didnt create this situation, but its my responsibility to fix it, Spitzer said. Cerissa Riley: 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 am I motivated by that? Discovery Company. After 2 years, these ladies are entitled to leave this case if they so wish.. #2 She was previously married 33-year-old Cerissa Laura Riley born in 1987 as Cerissa Gillian from Orange County, California. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley at the Newport Beach courthouse Friday morning. 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 newly elected District Attorney. In 2016, two women in separate incidents told police that they were taken to Robicheauxs 44th Street house in Newport Beach and assaulted. We believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey., Robicheaux was charged with rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, assault with intent to commit sexual offense, four counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale and two counts of possession of an assault weapon. Atty. First they were accused of drugging and raping women while recording their exploits on a cell phone. And that gives hope to some of the couples accusers. The initial charges involved two accusers, though after the case became public other women came forward, and charges involving five additional women were filed. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! A California native, she graduated from UC Berkeley and has worked in Washington and Los Angeles for The Times. Based on this evidence, we believe there may be many unidentified victims out there.. People often assume rapists are creepy, scary men who lunge out from hiding amongst bushes and attack unsuspecting women. Michael Fell, an Irvine attorney who represents an accuser known as Jane Doe #4, said that his client was devastated by Spitzers decision to drop charges and maintained that she was drugged and attacked in October 2016. If you believe you have been a victim, or have information related to the crime and about the defendants, please call Supervising Investigator Eric Wiseman at 714-347-8794. The reality is that rapists come in all socioeconomic groups, any background, Rackauckas said at a press conference on September 18. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, pictured in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women. But Riley and Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon and former reality TV show personality, arent guaranteed freedom. lawmakers champion bills raising penalties for fentanyl dealers and accountability from online platforms, Mallard, shot in neck and cheek, gets second chance at life, Boats set sail from Balboa Pier to Ensenada for 75th annual race. On February 7, 2020, Cerissa and Grant, sat down for an interview with ABC, saying that they finally can start over, since the charges against them were dropped. Judge Jones also took the rare step of removing local prosecutors from the case and transferring it to the California Attorney Generals Office. Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 32, were accused by a 34-year-old woman who claimed that back in April 2016. New DA says he wants to drop charges against Robicheaux and Riley. He suggested there might be hundreds of victims, perhaps more than a thousand, a remark that defendants attorneys said tainted the potential jury pool. While earning her Bachelors Degree in Dance, Cerissa worked as an Administrative Assistant at TCS. We went into the Jacuzzi, and he tried tearing off my bathing-suit top. A hearing for Robicheaux and Riley had been set for July 20, but will need to be rescheduled due to a time conflict with an upcoming trial, the judge wrote in his order Wednesday. News Conference Seeking Potential Additional Victims of Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley, News Release orangecountyda.org/civica/press/display.asp?layout=2&Entry=5710 Law enforcement investigating this case believe there may be additional victims. We tend to trust doctors who take an oath to do no harm. Your email address will not be published. By utilizing all non-operative and alternative therapies complimented with minimally invasive and microsurgical techniques Dr. Robicheaux strives to provide a holistic patient-specific approach to efficiently improve his patients quality of life, the medical groups website said in Robicheauxs bio. Rackauckas told potential victims, well listen to you, well conduct a full investigation and well do so without judgment. The two were high school sweethearts and got married. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Three of the alleged victims want to be removed from the case, according to prosecutors, and Judge Steven Bromberg said in his ruling that he understands why they are asking to be removed from this case as alleged victims., Bromberg noted that a declaration from investigator Jennifer Doss on why two of the women wanted out of the case was sparse, nevertheless, it is adequate and to the point. Jason McGahan. She lost consciousness while drinking with them and woke to Robicheaux and Cerissa attempting to rape her at his home. Along with Brea, California, Riley has lived in Anaheim and Costa Mesa, California, and in Orem, Utah, according to public records. At the last hearing, in June, attorney Matt Murphy told Bromberg that he was representing a new client in the case, a potential eighth victim, however. Prosecutors from the attorney generals office have said previously they wanted to chip down charges to one alleged victim in the case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and Cerissa Laura Riley, 34. He tried to take [them] off again, but I got out. (She has not filed a police report.). As soon as it hit the news in 2018, the sensational serial-rape case against Newport Beach hand surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, became tangled in a bitter political feud between Orange Countys top prosecutor and the man who would succeed him. At first, he seemed the stereotype of an egotistical doctor, she said. If only he wasnt a pompous ahole, I would have loved the guy, Hayden said. In the materials weve seized, there are thousands and thousands of videos and images on Robicheauxs phone, many also including Riley, which were now meticulously going through. Its a terrible thing when the elected district attorney has so politicized a case that the judge doesnt accept at face value that youre seeking justice, said Brian Gurwitz, a former prosecutor and longtime defense attorney who is unaffiliated with the case. According to prosecutors, the first incident occurred in April 2016, when Grant William Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley met the 32-year-old victim at a Newport Beach restaurant. Doss said in court papers that after March 24, that woman referred to as Jane Doe 2 stated she wanted to think about it, and that Doss left her a voicemail, but it wasnt returned, so prosecutors assumed she wanted out of the case, according to Brombergs ruling. Kelby Zorgdrager Crime and Public Safety | She has reportedly also been employed as a dance instructor and in sales. An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed some of the criminal charges against a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend who were accused of drugging and raping seven women, after prosecutors indicated that two of the alleged victims no longer want to be involved in the high-profile case. They look like theyre certainly past that point. He is currently affiliated with the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the California Orthopaedic Association. According to the medical group, Robicheaux served as a medical volunteer in Recife, Brazil, and founded a group called Giving In Good Hands Ortho, with a mission of providing medical care to underserved regions and teaching people in those areas to care for themselves. One of the worst days of my life was when I was raped by Grant Robicheaux, the woman wrote, saying she was a first-year law student at the time and did not initially report the incident because she feared it would derail her career and hurt her parents. Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? He shared in the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for the papers Bell coverage and has twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing, in 2007 and 2014. Robicheaux and Riley celebrated what seemed to be their imminent freedom on national TV last week. He and Cerissa, high school sweethearts, were already going through a divorce when he learned that she and her boyfriend, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Grant Robicheaux, had been accused of multiple sexual assaults in Orange County, California. A woman purporting to be his girlfriend clearly paid a significant role in disarming the victims and making them feel comfortable and safe. Even though the prosecution and defense actually agree in this case, the judge isnt so certain. According to prosecutors, Cerissa, 31, and the 38-year-old Robicheaux in essence used their looks and charm to put woman at ease in social settings then abused them at Robicheaux's home once. Cerissa who moved in with Robicheaux in Newport Beach, 45 miles south of Los Angeles, in 2018 -told media she feels their lives have been ruined. They are scheduled to appear in court in October. The arrest has jolted Orange County, with residents shocked that an attractive, successful couple could commit such ugly crimes. He also said they dont know whether all the incidents happened the same way. Chad says he spoke briefly with Cerissa since she has been charged and she asked for his support. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? The Web site of his former medical group, NewportCare, said he converted his Southern gentlemanly upbringing naturally into a comfortable caring bedside manner., When Robicheaux appeared on the 2014 Bravo show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, he came across as a perfectionist looking for a cookie-cutter wife to give him two kids. I remember thinking his life was really exciting. Late last year, Spitzer assigned two prosecutors to examine the case. Both Cerissa and Robicheaux forcefully denied the accusations against them and their attorneys, Philip Cohen, Scott Borthwick, and Shawn Holley, have cast doubt on the specter of multiplying victims. Grant Robicheauxs Newport Beach, California, home. Foto: instagram @cereliaraissa/. Grant Robicheaux, 40, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 34, were. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Rackauckas said he has also heard from a number of women accusing Robicheaux of rape, with some cases going back nearly 20 years. I put on my clothes. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Up Next in news. The two attended the same high school in Orange County, where Cerissa was a cheerleader and involved in drama. -. Judge dismisses some charges in rape case, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase, Judge dismisses some charges in rape case against California doctor and his girlfriend, California woman jumps out third-story window to escape vicious pimp, prosecutors say, Bay Area man on parole for kidnapping, sexual assault arrested for kidnapping, sexual assault, Trump turns focus to Biden, hints again at skipping debates, DNA from coffee cup leads to arrest in decades-old rapes, Trump lawyer cross-examines rape accuser Carroll. Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial. How many more women were exposed to illegal acts since 2016 when these allegations first came to light? said Spitzer, who won the election two months later. He added that Cerissa pushed him to seek church counseling. Dr. Rolling Stone. Think about whats being dismissed here the testimony of seven different victims. All allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley, a statement provided to Heavy on behalf of their attorneys said. But they insisted none of the women theyd had a sexual relationship with were too inebriated to consent. Hes clearly a sociopath. Another video posted last year titled, HEY JIMMY KIMMEL I TOLD MY KIDS I ATE ALL THEIR HALLOWEEN CANDY, shows Riley and Robicheaux talking to a young boy. 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 "engaging in a concerted political campaign to undermine the prosecution, discredit the victims, and ultimately destroy the criminal case" against the . Spitzer ordered an extensive review of the case and assigned two new prosecutors to it before deciding he would dump all of the charges against the pair. The couple slipped the drug GHB into her drink, which caused her to pass out, and she awoke while she was being sexually assaulted, prosecutors had alleged. Atty. He said thousands of videos and photos were found on Robicheauxs phone, many showing the couple having sexual contact with unconscious women. They are accused of working in tandem to supply drugs to their victims and then sexually assault the women while they were unable to consent, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said in the press release. Not Yet Rated 11 years ago Chad Riley This is the wedding invitation video to Chad and Cerissa's wedding!!! Since charges were filed in September 2018, the couples lives have been in shambles, their attorney Thomas M. Ferlauto said. In May, prosecutors made a request to dramatically scale back the criminal case, asking to. I told her, I cannot be your husband anymore, he recalled. Heres what you need to know about Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley: Orange County DACerissa Riley and Grant Robicheaux in February 2017. On the third date, Robicheaux invited the woman onto a boat with his roommate and his roommates girlfriend. Unable to walk, she was carried to bed. The defendants may have traveled together to various festivals and locations since 2015 including Burning Man in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, Dirtybird Campout festival in Silverado, Splash House festival in Palm Springs, and landmarks near Page, Arizona, the district attorneys office said. Cerissa Riley and Grant Robicheaux are said to have met a string of women at bars before drugging and sexually assaulting them. According to this lady, she met the pair at a restaurant in Newport before they headed to a boat party; she said they later took her to their apartment where they assaulted her. We have all heard of a wolf dressing up in sheeps clothing, the DA said at a recent press conference. 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. Bravo/YouTubeGrant Robicheaux on the Bravo reality dating show. I am a student, a dancer and a sales manager, she says in the video. Wedding Date: June 29th, 2013 Location Purchased From: Massapequa Wedding Gown Designer: Christine Anthony Experience at Bridal Reflections: I had an excellent experience with Bridal Reflections. L.A. has a new answer, Epic snowpack upends rhythms of life for many species in Sierra Nevada range, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims, Most California colleges dont offer rape kits on campus. Jane Doe #1 then took aim at Spitzer, saying he had never met with her and that his office had given her scant notice less than 10 minutes before the news conference at which he apologized to the man who raped me., Zimmer, one of the prosecutors, responded to Jane Doe #1s statement by telling the judge: Its not that we dont believe her., The judge shot back: But a jury might believe her.. His girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, 33, faces three counts of rape among 13 charges in connection with assaults that previous prosecutors alleged took place in Robicheaux's Balboa Peninsula home . Hes certainly somebody who had a desire for nonconsensual sex I have no idea why [Riley] would join him in that.. Since the charges were filed in 2018, additional victims have come forward from across the country, including from Nevada, Southern California, and New York, but those cases were . Required fields are marked *, Don't forget to check the Photo Gallery & Video. Todd Spitzer of sabotaging the prosecution. During the episode, Robicheaux went on dates with three women he picked out of online dating profiles provided by the shows producers. Robicheaux is a prominent area doctor who in 2014 appeared on the short-lived Bravo reality dating series Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. According to Rackauckas, he had a reputation as a fine doctor and one who was sought after., Added a lawyer whose wife was a Robicheaux patient, Hes good-looking, smooth. According to the district attorneys office, Robicheaux graduated from Louisiana State University medical school in 2007. The case has gone through multiple unusual gyrations since it was filed in 2018. I told him I had been raped [while] in the military, and that his actions reminded me of that. Riley also allegedly performed oral sex on the woman. Robicheaux's original 16 felony charges involved seven alleged victims, and Riley was charged in connection with five alleged victims. Still cant believe this happened to us, Robicheaux said. Rackauckas had delayed the charges for political effect and thereby potentially endangered the public, Spitzer suggested. A wolf can wear scrubs or doctors clothing, Rackauckas said last week. But former district attorney Rackauckas denied Spitzers claim that he used the case for political gain. I know in my heart of hearts that I was sexually assaulted that night and that I will never be the same, the woman wrote. February 5, 2020. San Jose: Pedestrian killed in early morning collision, Tornado flips cars, damages homes in coastal Florida city, Fremont: Hit-and-run collision suspect taken into custody, Manhunt continues for Texas shooting suspect, reward offered, a state prosecutor described them as having been dragged through the mud and grossly mistreated., made a request to dramatically scale back the criminal case. District Attorney Todd Spitzer to drop the charges has allowed her to breathe again and she feels like shes finally awoken from a nightmare. In May, prosecutors made a request to dramatically scale back the criminal case, asking to dismiss charges related to all but one, or possibly two, alleged victims. July 16, 2011. Robicheaux was billed as Grant R. on the show. Three women who accused a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend of drugging and raping them no longer want to be involved in the high-profile criminal case against the couple after they were. We have all these videos and a lot of the women on those videos look like theyre not able to consent. Shes a very, very good person, said the 30-year-old, adding that he and Cerissa used to evangelize on the street, traveling as far as Hungary to perform religious skits. They have been charged with 13 and 11 felonies, respectively, including oral copulation with anesthesia, rape by drugs and assault with intent to commit sexual offenses. Todd Spitzer announced he would seek dismissal of all charges against Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley. During the first date, Robicheaux told the woman, I want a destination wedding, I wanna crush the plates, I wanna be carried in a chair. Looming over the apparent wreckage of the case, 16 months later, is the question of what role the political spat between longtime antagonists ultimately played. According to public records, Riley worked as a substitute teacher at Fullerton Elementary in 2014 and 2015. If convicted of the two cases currently being tried, Robicheaux faces up to 40 years in prison and Riley 30. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. I was blaming myself and kept retying it and saying no, Hayden recalled. She had met Robicheaux on Tinder. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. A 32-year-old woman met the pair at China Palace restaurant in Newport Beach. His office could not prove that the defendants believed their accusers incapable of sexual consent, he said. Investigators had seized video tapes, Rackauckas said. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? announced there wasnt enough evidence to proceed with the case. To throw that out based on the claim that the statement about the videos was exaggerated doesnt make any sense., Laurie L. Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor unaffiliated with the case, said the case might have hinged on questions regarding witnesses credibility, and concern that they are going to get torn up on cross-examination.. But Spitzer, Rackauckas opponent and former protege, wasted no time in attacking Rackauckas for the timing of the rape charges. Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. She was previously married to Chad Riley, who is nowadays engaged to Anthony Aglio. Would a case like this create a lot of publicity? She covered the California Supreme Court and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. CNN First they were accused of drugging and raping women while recording their exploits on a cell phone. Meanwhile, Rackauckas said the couple used their looks and status to gain the trust of the alleged victims. Crime and Public Safety | But those wedding bells are likely on hold. 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The two had been accused of assaulting a number of women back in2016, however reports say the charges againt the couple have been dropped. CNNs Dakin Andone contributed to this report. One woman described Robicheaux and Riley as a Bonnie and Clyde team. It became a flashpoint in the election between Spitzer and former Orange County Dist. The couple repeatedly denied the allegations. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Michael Carroll, of the sexual assault unit. I feel like I finally woke up from a bad nightmare, Riley told ABCs Good Morning America in an interview that aired Friday. First they were accused of drugging and raping women while recording their exploits on a cell phone. Recommended Stories. Cerissa Riley was charged with 13 felonies, including rape. But a wolf can wear scrubs That wolf can be a beautiful woman., -Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. There are several videos where the women in the videos appear to be highly intoxicated beyond the ability to consent or resist and theyre barely responsive to the defendants sexual advances. On the way to graduating at the top of his medical school class, he was the schools Vice-President and the Surgical Society President, along while accumulating numerous awards and scholarships. As of October 2017, Riley was studying education at California State University, Fullerton. Crime and Public Safety | I told him that I was trying to find a partner for life and that jumping into bed would not get me there, said Hayden, who works as a math and physics tutor. She screamed and a neighbor called 911, court documents say. The judge said there were too many unanswered questions about why Jane Doe 2 did not respond to prosecutors. His emphasis is on bone and soft tissue traumatic and sports-related injuries as well as those due to overuse, arthritis and aging. She was divorced in 2017, according to Orange County court records. And did you think that that publicity may be helpful to your campaign?, And that was the thought you wanted to help your campaign, I assume. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Atty. Sources who knew Cerissa Riley as a nice churchgoing girl are especially surprised. Case Summary. By mornings end, Riley was slumped weeping against Robicheauxs shoulder in court, and the defense had withdrawn an offer to make the couple available for further interviews. Murphy, who represents several of the victims, and attorney Michael Fell, who represents one of the alleged victims, objected and Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Jones denied the motion to dismiss the case and handed off the prosecution to the attorney generals office in August, citing the politics involved between Spitzer and Rackauckas as one of the main reasons. Robicheaux gave her two pills and had sex with her while Cerissa filmed the encounter on her iPhone, court documents allege. Bromberg has not yet decided whether to allow prosecutors to dismiss the charges related to the other women. EARLIER: Prosecutors said Friday that intend to go forward with a new complaint charging a former reality star and his girlfriend. Cohen turned to the question of publicity surrounding the case amid Rackauckas reelection bid. Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, had their lives " destroyed. Two days later, Hayden saw the doctor at Stag Bar, a spot within walking distance of his home. They are accused of drinking alcohol with her until she was no longer conscious. Prosecutors say the couple then brought her back to Robicheauxs apartment, where they are accused of sexually assaulting her with intent to commit rape. According to the press release, the woman woke up and screamed for help until a neighbor called police, who responded and investigated the case. Its a joint venture, for sure, Rackauckas said. 38-year-old Grant Robicheaux and 31-year-old Cerissa Riley were arrested for the alleged 2016 incidents. She said she wants to motivate, support and encourage my students to be healthier and active throughout their life., Riley said in the video, From teaching beginner dancers to elite dancers, my goal is to teach adolescents to always try their best in all that they do. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial., While Robicheauxs defense team reiterated that he is not accused of misconduct in connection with his patients, the states medical board confirms it is looking into the matter., Speaking with PEOPLE, Cerissas husband says the whole family is shaken up by the case., We love her, Chad says. Cerissa Riley is the stunning girlfriend of TV surgeon Dr. Grant Robicheaux -known from a Bravos reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. ), Police say the victim felt paralyzed by the apparent drugs and did not feel as though she could physically resist Robicheaux and Cerissa while they were having sex with her.. Cerissa Riley was charged with 13 felonies, including rape. Atty. I think there probably are, Rackauckas replied. For more on what authorities say were Dr. Robicheauxs dark secrets with his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands Friday.
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