A grand jury has now handed down a 21-count indictment against Dr. James Heaps, the former UCLA gynecologist accused of sexually abusing thousands of his patients.
If convicted on all counts, Heaps could serve more than 90 years behind bars.
Heaps was employed by UCLA between 1983 and 2019. In January, a judge approved a $73 million class-action settlement with more than 5,000 of his former patients who said they were sexually battered by him.
Accusations include making sexually inappropriate comments to patients, touching women sexually during exams without wearing gloves and simulating intercourse, often roughly, with an ultrasound probe.
The settlement is separate from criminal charges against Heaps, 63, whose medical license has been suspended by court order as that case moves forward. He's has pleaded not guilty to the charges involving seven women and denied wrongdoing.
In the settlement, Heaps and UCLA did not admit any wrongdoing.