Prosecutors say there have been “critical developments” in the rape and kidnapping case against a California orthopedic surgeon who appeared in a reality TV dating show
February 4, 2020, 5:01 PM
2 min read
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Prosecutors say there have been “critical developments” in the rape and kidnapping case against a California orthopedic surgeon who appeared in a reality TV dating show.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called a press conference for Tuesday to discuss the developments. His office declined to provide further details.
Orthopedic surgeon Grant Robicheaux of Newport Beach and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley were charged in 2018 with rape by use of drugs, kidnapping and other crimes. Authorities said the pair plied their victims with drugs and sexually assaulted them when they were incapable of resisting.
Robicheaux previously appeared on a Bravo TV show called “Online Dating Rituals of the American Male.”
The defendants' attorneys had no immediate comment.
The case has been mired in controversy. Last year, Spitzer asked the California Attorney General’s Office to take over the prosecution citing concerns of a conflict of interest as he had previously accused his predecessor of improperly handling the case and using it to draw publicity during his re-election bid.
The state’s attorneys determined there wasn’t an issue and the county should proceed.
In September 2018, then-District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said during a press conference that investigators were sifting through thousands of videos and images found on Robicheaux’s phone and that some that showed women who were barely responsive. Defense lawyers have said there are no such videos.
