Photo: Orange County DA
The Newport Beach surgeonwho briefly appeared on a Bravo reality dating series and was once named Orange County’s “Bachelor of the Year” and his girlfriend have been charged with sexually assaulting more victims.
Dr. Grant Robicheaux was charged last month with attacking two women in 2016 and, on Wednesday, was charged with assaulting five additional women, PEOPLE confirms.
His girlfriend, Cerissa Laura Riley, also faces more charges and has been accused of assaulting three additional women, according to a release from the Orange County District Attorney.
Both defendants face additional charges of kidnapping to commit rape, the release says.
On Wednesday,the couple appeared in court in Santa Anawhere theypleaded not guilty to charges of drugging and raping the women, theLos Angeles Times,CNN report and theRedlands Daily Factsreport.
On Wednesday, they also learned that prosecutors were charging them with additional counts.
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Their pleas of not guiltyapply to the new charges, a spokesperson for the prosecutor confirmed to PEOPLE.
On Wednesday, the couple said in a statement, “We unequivocally deny all allegations of nonconsensual sex and absolutely deny any allegations that we have ever secretly drugged anyone for the purpose of having sex with them.
“We have been aware of this investigation since the search warrant in January, and as a result of the search we were well aware that the police had taken computers, phones, and digital storage items for review. We didn’t flee, we didn’t move and we didn’t go into hiding.”
Before the arrests, they continued, “we had great friends, great lives and great careers that allowed us to make positive contributions to our community. We look forward to getting our lives back.
“We have and will continue to stay here to clear our names we worked hard to establish.”
In September, the doctor, 38, and Riley 31, were arrested and charged with luring two women in 2016 to his Orange County home, drugging them and sexually assaulting them – all while capturing the alleged attacks on video, prosecutors allege in court records.
Prosecutors had said that previously they believe the pair has“many” more victims.
After the couple’s arrests became public, the DA said his office received many calls about them, which led to the new charges, theTimesreports.
They are scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on Jan. 18, 2019.
Riley is a former substitute teacher who last worked in one local district in 2016. Shehas reportedlyalso been employed as a dance instructor and in sales.
Bravo
Robicheaux and Riley have vehemently denied the accusations against them.
In a statement released in September, the couple’s attorneys, Philip Cohen, Scott Borthwick, and Shawn Holley said their clients “have been aware of these accusations for a number of months, and each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court.”
“Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial.”
The defense attorneys for the couple did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
