Sexual Battery Charges: Two California women found guilty of sexual battery

Ex-UCLA gynecologist James Heaps guilty of sexually abusing patients, jurors said

A Santa Ana, Calif., physician was found guilty Wednesday on multiple counts of felony sexual battery and other charges for allegedly molesting several patients while working there.

Former UCLA gynecologist James Heaps was found guilty of three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, five counts of forcible oral copulation and one count of false imprisonment, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The trial was delayed until late April because of the defendant’s deteriorating health.

Heaps, who was sentenced to six years in prison, was originally charged with seven counts of sexual battery and one count of false imprisonment at a May trial. The defendant was found guilty Wednesday on the most serious count of sexual battery — a felony — and five counts of forcible oral copulation, according Orange County Superior Court records. The trial was delayed because of Heaps’s deteriorating health, said Lt. Dan Smith with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The victims testified that Heaps had touched them inappropriately, including touching their vaginas, according to a news release from the DA’s office. The first woman said Heaps told her, “You look good in that dress.” She said he touched her thighs while she was lying on her bed and that she was awake for much of the time, according to the statement.

The first woman testified that he later touched her vagina through her underwear, while she was sleeping, without her consent, according to the Orange County DA’s office news release.

The second woman said Heaps kissed her on her mouth during a massage session, without her consent, according to the DA’s office release.

The third woman testified that he inappropriately touched her buttocks, groin and breasts without consent, according to the DA’s office release.

The fourth woman testified that he touched her buttocks and breasts without consent, the DA’s office release states.

Heaps, who was fired three months after the first allegations were made against him, was arrested in 2014 with the help of an informant, according to court records.

An Orange County sheriff’s deputy testified that

Leave a Comment