NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A California judge on Friday refused to dismiss rape and kidnapping charges against a doctor who appeared on a reality TV show and his girlfriend, dealing a blow to prosecutors who wanted to drop the case.
Grant Robicheaux & Cerissa Riley/Orange County DA
Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones said he was ruling after reviewing documents from prosecutors, defense lawyers and attorneys for women who said orthopedic surgeon Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley had drugged and sexually assaulted them.
Jones said he was not sure who could prosecute the case since Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer had publicly apologized to the defendants. He set a hearing for June 12 to discuss how to proceed.
The high-profile case has been tied up in local politics. When running for his seat, Spitzer blasted his predecessor for how he was handling the case and accused him of using it to drum up publicity to try to win re-election.
After taking office, Spitzer said he conducted a thorough review of the case and found insufficient evidence against the pair and asked Jones to dismiss the charges.
Robicheaux — who previously appeared on a Bravo TV show called “Online Dating Rituals of the American Male — and Riley were charged in 2018.
