Former UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps will be retried on nine sex-related charges that a jury deadlocked on last year, a judge ruled on Friday.
Heaps was convicted in October 2022 on three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person involving two patients.
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He was acquitted on other charges involving two other patients. Those charges were three counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery by fraud, and one count of sexual exploitation of a patient, according to KCAL News.
The judge declared a mistrial on those remaining counts.
Heaps was sentenced to 11 years in prison in April.
Dr. Heap's attorney, Tracy Green, said she’ll fight to have the nine counts dismissed.
“No evidence was allowed that the plaintiffs had civil lawsuits,” she said. “In addition, we found a lot of inconsistencies in testimony and other court rulings like their expert who testified where we believe was completely improper.”
Darren Cavanoki, one of the attorneys representing some of the ex-patients, said those counts feel like “unfinished business.”
“Heaps is looking at many more years in prison if those counts are pursued and he is convicted,” he said.
In May, Heap’s request to be released on bail pending his appeal to the verdict was denied.
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