Notorious UCLA Gynecologist Sentenced to 11 Years for Serial Sex Abuse In a long-awaited justice, former University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) gynecologist James Heaps has pleaded guilty to 13 felony sexual abuse charges, bringing an end to a years-long saga of alleged abuse. The 74-year-old Heaps, who was initially sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2023, had his original conviction overturned by an appeals court in February due to concerns over a biased trial. The court found that Heaps' attorneys were not informed of a note from the foreman of the jury, expressing doubts about a juror's English proficiency, which could have impacted the trial's outcome. With his latest guilty plea, Heaps will serve 11 years in prison for the serial sex abuse of several patients during his career, bringing closure to the victims and their families.
James Heaps was first sentenced in 2023 but appeals court found he was denied a fair trialSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA former University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) gynecologist pleaded guilty to 13 felony sexual abuse charges on Tuesday in connection with the sexual assault of several patients over his career, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.James Heaps was originally sentenced in 2023 to 11 years in prison after being convicted of five counts of sexual battery and penetration involving two patients. That sentence was overturned by an appeals court in February, which ruled that Heaps was denied a fair trial because the judge did not share with his attorneys a note from the court’s foreman sharing concerns about a juror’s English proficiency. Continue reading...
