California couple cleared of raping 'hundreds' of women
r. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley Newport Beach Police Department
A California couple accused of sexually assaulting "hundreds" of women have been cleared after prosecutors dropped charges against them.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has accused his predecessor of grossly mishandling the case and misleading the public.
In 2018, prosecutors claimed surgeon Grant William Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Laura Riley had drugged and raped their victims but Mr Spitzer has described the case as "manufactured".
Former district attorney Tony Rackauckas had alleged the couple "used their good looks and charm" to lure and drug victims.
FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018 file photo, Dr. Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley listen during a news conference by their lawyer Phillip Kent Cohen in Newport Beach, Calif. Prosecutors on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 said they will seek to drop a high-profile rape case against Robicheaux, a California surgeon who appeared in a reality TV dating show. Theres insufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told a news confere AP/AAP
He brought charges on behalf of seven unnamed women who said they were assaulted by Dr Robicheaux, 39, and Ms Riley, 32.
He said investigators had found "thousands" of videos and images on their mobile phones that showed vulnerable women "barely responsive to the defendants' sexual advances", however a review of the case found "not a single video or photograph" depicting the crimes.
Mr Rackauckas admitted in a deposition last year he used the case to attract media attention and help his re-election effort.
Mr Spitzer will open an internal investigation to review Mr Rackauckas' handling of the case, US media have reported.
On Tuesday, Mr Rackauckas defended his handling of the case, saying he felt for "the women who had the courage to come forward".
Philip Cohen, criminal defense attorney for Dr. Grant Robicheaux, speaks following an announcement during a press conference by Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer that the charges in the case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley are being dropped citing a lack of evidence and accusing his predecessor of mishandling the case, at the Orange County District Attorneys office in Santa Ana, on Tuesday morning, February 4, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG AP/AAP
"Any prosecutor should think long and hard before dismissing such a case where multiple women have independently come forward and subjected themselves to the hard process of baring their souls to the authorities," he told local media.
"I just hope they're not being sold down the river for some twisted political motive."
Dr Robicheaux and partner Ms Riley were arrested in September 2018 after two women accused the couple of rape and sexual assault.
Following media coverage, more accusers cam forward and the couple were ultimately charged with a 30 felonies, including drug rape and assault charges.
The couple were facing maximum penalties of 40 and 30 years in prisons however the media coverage "set off a frenzy that completely destroyed the integrity" of the case.
The couple both denied the charges against them at the time.
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