Dr. Grant Robicheaux on actuality TV present “On-line Courting Rituals of the American Male.”YouTube/Bravo/Orange County District Lawyer
A Newport Seaside physician and his girlfriend might lastly see a trial of their intercourse assault case.
The couple have been first accused of preying on girls within the Orange County space in 2018.
Over practically 5 years, the case that originally charged them with rape has been watered down.
An Orange County, California choose will determine subsequent month whether or not a Newport Seaside physician and his girlfriend will lastly go to trial on fees that they sexually assaulted girls that they purchased drinks for at eating places.
An area detective testified this week that two girls mentioned Dr. Grant Robicheaux — who used to seem on the Bravo actuality TV present “On-line Courting Rituals of the American Male” — and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, provided them with alcohol as a way to sexually assault them, the Orange County Register reported. The ladies mentioned they believed that they had been drugged by the couple.
The case in opposition to the couple has been severely watered down since 2018, when an Orange County District Lawyer introduced fees in opposition to the couple, whose workplace painted as a “Bonnie and Clyde” workforce that lured girls to Robicheaux’s posh residence to drug and rape them on digital camera.
Then-District Lawyer Tony Rackauckas mentioned in a press convention on the time that investigators discovered “hundreds” of items of video proof depicting Robicheaux and Riley sexually assaulting girls on the couple’s telephones. Rackauckas urged extra victims to return ahead, claiming the proof confirmed there may very well be “a whole bunch” or “greater than a thousand” victims.
On the time, the couple’s faces have been splashed throughout entrance pages and homepages. Two years later, although, the newly elected DA Todd Spitzer alleged his predecessor had “manufactured” the complete case for political achieve and moved to dropped the case.
A choose denied the DA’s bid to drop the case utterly after attorneys for the ladies argued that seven girls who did not know one another had all made comparable allegations in opposition to the couple, the Orange County Register reported.
Story continues
The choose changed the DA’s workplace with the state Lawyer Common’s workplace as prosecutors within the case, after which a distinct choose dropped fees associated to 2 victims who not needed to take part.
A 3rd choose eliminated three different girls from the case, leaving solely two Jane Does, in accordance with The Register.
The couple has denied that they dedicated any crimes and mentioned they have been swingers.
Lawyer Phillip Cohen, who represents Robicheaux, has mentioned that the couple is being unfairly prosecuted for his or her way of life.
Cohen was in court docket when contacted by Insider Thursday and did not instantly return a request for remark.
Dr. Grant Robicheaux shortly after being arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in 2018.Reuters
The ladies say Grant Robicheaux purchased them drinks forward of the tried assaults
Newport Seaside police Detective Marie Gamble testified at a possible trigger listening to that the primary girl was out ingesting and dancing along with her roommate when she met Riley, who then launched them to her boyfriend, The Register reported.
After shopping for them drinks, the lady mentioned she wakened at Robicheaux’s dwelling, the place he informed her she “needed this” and tried to kiss her, the Register reported from Gamble’s testimony.
Police responded to the house after neighbors heard her screams and dialed 911, Gamble testified.
At first, the lady denied being sexually assaulted, however later informed Gamble that she lied as a result of she felt uncomfortable and thought the officers have been laughing at her, The Register reported.
The second girl met the superstar physician by way of a courting app and informed a DA investigator that she was shocked when Riley confirmed up on their date at Nobu Newport Seaside in 2017, the investigator, Jennifer Kearns, informed the court docket.
The lady informed Kearns she had taken cocaine that Riley supplied her, after which wakened later to the couple touching her and taking her shirt off in Robicheaux’s bed room, The Register reported from Kearns testimony.
Police discovered medication and unregistered weapons as his dwelling, in accordance with The Register.
Kearns is suing the DA’s workplace, alleging that her employer is colluding with protection to dismantle the case, the LA Instances reported.
Orange County Superior Courtroom Choose Michael Leversen will determine by July ninth whether or not the case in opposition to Robicheaux and Riley will go to trial.
Learn the unique article on Insider