A wealthy surgeon and his girlfriend who were accused of drugging and raping multiple women will no longer face rape charges. Two of the alleged victims felt that their stories had been forgotten in the political fight and legal wrangling surrounding the case. A judge approved a request to drop most of the charges against the couple on Thursday. The only charges remaining are related to just two alleged victims.
Prosecutors in California are facing backlash after dropping rape charges against a wealthy surgeon and his girlfriend. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley were accused of drugging and raping multiple women, but now the case is only related to two alleged victims. Some people are saying that this decision was made because Robicheaux is a “wealthy white man,” and that the other women’s stories were forgotten in the political fight surrounding the case.
Robicheaux and Riley no longer face rape charges. An amended complaint charged them with kidnapping to commit a sexual offense and two counts of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, as well as other charges related to administering or possessing drugs. Robicheaux additionally faces weapons charges in connection with guns allegedly found at his home.
Mike Fell, attorney for one of the victims, Jane Doe 1, told BuzzFeed News this his client is looking for Robicheaux and Riley to be held accountable.
“I think she’s satisfied that we are where we are today, which is seeing the attorney general’s office going forward with criminal prosecution as it relates to her victimization,” he said.
Last week, Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Ospino listened to arguments from attorneys for the defendants and alleged victims in addition to the prosecutors. One alleged victim told the judge she was “exhausted” by the case’s yearslong trajectory.
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In the nearly three years since the initial charges were filed, the case has become mired in a political fight between the former and current district attorney. After bouncing around the court system, prosecution was put in the hands of the state attorney general’s office, whose attorneys said at least three of the alleged victims no longer wanted to be involved in the high-profile case after being “dragged through the mud,” by the Orange County district attorney’s office and that almost all charges should be dropped.
