Sexual assault charges against Bravo TV doctor, girlfriend to be dropped
All criminal charges will be dropped against a one-time contestant on a Bravo TV dating competition and his girlfriend, who had previously been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting numerous women, California authorities said Tuesday.
The charges against Grant Robicheaux, 39, and Cerissa Riley, 33, were filed by the Orange County District Attorney's office in 2018. Initially, there were two reported victims, but officials later said that number had grown — at one point even suggesting hundreds of women may have been targeted.
Robicheaux and Riley both faced multiple felony charges, including rape by use of drugs, that could have led to them spending life in prison, if convicted.
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An orthopedic surgeon, Robicheaux appeared on a 2014 episode of "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male."
Current Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Tuesday that some of the claims his predecessor Tony Rackauckas made about the case were inaccurate. Spitzer's release called the previous claim that numerous videos depicting sexual assault had been recovered a "fabrication."
When the case was initially filed, Rackauckas had claimed Robicheaux and Riley "met the victims in a public place, drugged them while in that public place, and relocated them back to their home after their victims were rendered incapable of consent, with the intent to sexually assault their prey."
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While running for office in 2018, the Los Angeles Times reports Spitzer attacked Rackauckas multiple times for his handling of the charges against the couple, citing complaints from defense attorneys.
Spitzer said a three-month-long review of the case, undertaken by his office, found no video or photographic evidence of the alleged crimes existed. That led to Tuesday's announcement that charges would be dropped.
“My sworn duty as the elected district attorney is not to secure convictions,” Spitzer said in a statement. “My sworn duty is to pursue justice and ensure that the rights of victims and defendants are protected.
"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."
Spitzer told The Associated Press he plans to meet soon with the alleged victims to explain his decision in more detail.
Contributing: The Associated Press; Kristin Lam, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grant Robicheaux, Bravo TV doctor, won't face sexual assault charges
