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October 20, 2022: Former UCLA Doctor Convicted of Sexual Assault
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that jurors convicted James Mason Heaps, an obstetrician-gynecologist formerly employed by the University of California, Los Angeles, on five counts in connection with the sexual assaults of some of his patients.
“The trauma Dr. Heaps inflicted on the very people he had sworn to care for is immeasurable.” District Attorney Gascón said. “I am committed to helping all victims of sexual assault – whether they were victimized by a doctor, school personnel or a Hollywood elite – and encourage them to contact my office’s Bureau of Victim Services if they are in need of services.
I want to commend the hard work of the incredibly capable and experienced prosecutors who spent untold hours preparing and presenting this case. I also thank the investigators from the California Department of Consumer Affairs and other agencies for their dedication to the victims and diligence in pursuing this case.
Finally, I thank the jurors for their service during this lengthy trial and for bringing some measure of accountability to Dr. Heaps. While we respect the jurors’ decisions on the acquitted counts, we are obviously disappointed. I know how challenging such trials can be for all involved and the personal sacrifices that are made so that justice is served.”
Jurors found Heaps (dob 10/27/56) guilty of three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. He was acquitted on three counts of sexual battery by fraud, three counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and one count of sexual exploitation of a patient. Jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict on three counts of sexual battery by fraud, four counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and two counts of sexual exploitation of a patient.
At this time, no decision has been made on whether or not to retry the hung counts.
A sentencing hearing was set for November 17 in Department 108 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Heaps initially was charged in 2019. A grand jury indicted Heaps last year and the indictment alleges sexual misconduct by Heaps from 2009 to 2018.
Case BA484297 was investigated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
