Reality Doctor, Girlfriend Rape Case Reassigned OC Judge Decides

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The prosecution of a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend will be done by the Attorney General's Office. The case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley, both charged with drugging and raping several women, was handed off by Orange County Superior Court judge Gregory Jones.

Jones recused the office of Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who had no objection to his prosecutors being removed from the case against Robicheaux and Riley.

Jones sparred with defense attorney Philip Cohen over case law on recusal of prosecutors. Cohen argued that Jones could not legally disqualify Spitzer's office and that only the defense could request a recusal.

Jones, however, said he had judicial discretion to remove Spitzer's office from the case.

"How is this any different than someone in the District Attorney's Office referring the case to another deputy in the District Attorney's Office?" Jones asked Cohen.

Jones said the District Attorney's motion to dismiss the case had been denied, so "that means the case is going to proceed. What difference does it make" who prosecutes it?

Cohen argued that "prosecutorial shopping" is "not appropriate," according to the law.

"Let's be candid," Cohen said. "What the conflict is, in this case, is the District Attorney's Office has said we ethically cannot proceed on this case."

And, Cohen further argued, the "reason the conflict has arisen is because of this court's action to deny the motion to dismiss, and now they are in a position that if they go forward, they're breaching their ethical obligation."

Jones countered that Cohen was arguing the wrong law. He pointed to another law that shows, "It is my obligation to guarantee the process's integrity."

Cohen replied that the law Jones was citing is "an amorphous section that says the court can do whatever it wants."

Jones said, "this can go on and on," and invited Cohen to appeal, but said he intended to rule for a reassignment of the case to the Attorney General's Office.

The judge added, "The victims were not contacted prior to the press conference indicating that the case would be dismissed" in February.

"All of the senior deputies in his office agree it should be dismissed, which leaves one to wonder who in the office would be left to prosecute the matter," Jones said.

The judge said any prosecutor in Spitzer's office who won the case would be in a position of making his boss look "foolish" for saying the case could not be prosecuted. And any prosecutor who did not "vigorously" pursue guilty please would leave themselves open to discipline from the state bar, Jones said.

"I have serious questions about the District Attorney's ability to prosecute this case at this point. I think they are hopelessly conflicted," Jones said. "Accordingly, I am going to order they be disqualified... and I am going to order the case referred to the Attorney General's Office."

Cohen complained again about how Spitzer's predecessor, Tony Rackauckas, who filed the charges, said at a news conference that there were potentially thousands of victims. There was proof of it on video. The defense attorney said everyone agreed there is no such proof on the video seized by investigators.

"Mr. Rackauckas is not the District Attorney on this case at this point," Jones replied.

When Cohen tried to interject again, Jones said, "Stop. The issue here is who can proceed with the prosecution? We're not going to talk about (Rackauckas). It has no relevance."

Jones scheduled a hearing for Friday, Aug. 27, to discuss transferring the case to the Attorney General's Office.

In February, Spitzer's prosecutors attempted to have the case dismissed because they argued they did not have enough evidence to prove their case.

However, Jones rejected that motion in June. The defense team has a pending appeal with another Orange County Superior Court judge on Jones' ruling to refuse to dismiss the case.

A defense motion to recuse Jones failed when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected it.

Jones' "intention and design is clear — because it disagrees with the unanimous conclusion of District Attorney Todd Spitzer; his supervisory lieutenants; and the career sex prosecutors who are assigned to this case... regarding the strength of the evidence, the court is set on recusing the Orange County District Attorney's Office in hopes that the Attorney General's Office, or some other prosecutorial agency, will see this case differently," the attorneys argued in a motion filed last week.
"Despite the court's plain desire, it simply does not have the legal authority to recuse the District Attorney's Office under these circumstances," the attorneys argued.

The defense attorneys further argue, "The only circumstance under which a district attorney can be recused is where there has been shown an actual likelihood of unfairness to the defense. Here, of course, there is no unfairness to the defense by Mr. Spitzer's continued participation as a prosecutor. Indeed, the unfairness that the defendants have suffered, and continue to suffer, in this case, has been despite Spitzer's efforts, not because of them."

In the past, the defense attorneys have indicated they might file a motion to dismiss the case due to outrageous governmental misconduct due to complaints with how Rackauckas handled the case.

Attorney Matt Murphy, who represents four alleged victims in the case, has argued that the defense attorneys have been colluding with Spitzer to dump the case. Murphy has argued for the recusal of Spitzer's office from the case.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.