UCLA gynecologist James Heaps sentenced to 11 years for sexual abuse

A disgraced UCLA gynecologist was sentenced to greater than a decade behind bars this week for sexually abusing sufferers.

Dr. James Heaps, 66 — who was convicted final 12 months of three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of two sufferers — was ordered Wednesday to serve 11 years in jail, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Following his launch, Heaps can even be required to register as a intercourse offender, the outlet mentioned.

As soon as one of UCLA Health’s highest-paid employees, Heaps was arrested in 2019 based mostly on allegations from a number of sufferers that he groped them, made lewd feedback, and carried out needlessly invasive examinations. 

It was subsequently revealed that complaints about Heaps’ habits beforehand went unaddressed till late 2017 when a proper investigation was initiated by the college’s Title IX workplace, the newspaper reported.

Heaps — who noticed greater than 6,000 sufferers all through his profession — was allowed to proceed working towards till June 2018, when UCLA declined to resume his contract and introduced the allegations to police. 

After his arrest the next 12 months, Heaps was charged with 21 felonies involving the sexual assaults of seven ladies between 2009 and 2018, CBS News said. The jury in the end discovered him not responsible of seven of the counts, and deadlocked on the remaining fees.

A whole lot of his victims additionally sued UCLA for allegedly ignoring their complaints and stifling rumors of Heaps’ abuse on the pupil well being middle, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Middle, and his campus workplace.

The college in the end shelled out nearly $700 million to over 300 victims.  

Heaps — who already spent greater than a 12 months in jail whereas awaiting trial — appeared in courtroom Wednesday in an orange jumpsuit. He didn’t tackle the courtroom after his sentence was learn.

“Right this moment we lastly have a motive to smile. I hope that the settlement by UCLA and as we speak’s sentencing will encourage any victims of sexual assault to return ahead,” one of many plaintiffs, Ellen Carter, informed the LA Occasions after the proceedings.

“Now the therapeutic can start.”

Different victims introduced written statements detailing the lingering results of Heaps’ habits.

“I’m nonetheless residing with lots of anxiousness. I’ve gone to some very darkish locations in my ideas,” Jane T. informed the courtroom.

One other girl, Natalie B., recounted how Heaps’ abuse tainted the births of her kids on the UCLA medical facility.

“I used to be proud to be a affected person there,” she mentioned in a press release learn by a prosecutor. 

“It has been completely ruined … [Heaps] has made the place the place my infants have been born a traumatizing set off.”

Heaps’ protection lawyer, Tracy Brown, tried to argue that the abuse was merely a “blip” in her consumer’s 35-year profession.

“He’s somebody who has performed lots of good in his life,” she mentioned.

Fellow protection lawyer Leonard Levine informed reporters exterior the Burbank courthouse that Heaps would enchantment the sentence.

“[Heaps] has adamantly denied any of the legal offenses,” he reiterated.