Former UCLA Gynecologist Admits Guilt in Sexual Misconduct Case
Former UCLA Gynecologist Sentenced to 11 Years After Pleading Guilty
Former UCLA gynecologist James Heaps was sentenced to 11 years in state prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 13 felony counts involving multiple victims. This comes after his previous conviction for sexual crimes against two women was overturned earlier this year by a state appeals court.
Heaps’ initial conviction in October 2022 included three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. While jurors acquitted him of charges related to two other patients, they were deadlocked on nine additional counts involving four alleged victims.
The 13 felony counts Heaps admitted to on Tuesday pertain to a total of five victims. This sentence mirrors the time he had been serving before the appeals court overturned his conviction.
In its February ruling, the appellate court highlighted procedural issues during the trial. Specifically, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Carter had authorized his judicial assistant to enter the jury room twice to discuss a note from jurors expressing concern over one juror’s limited English proficiency, suggesting he may have already made up his mind about the case. The court found it troubling that the judge did not inform the attorneys about this note, denying them a chance to address the juror’s qualifications.
“Recognizing the burden on the trial court as well as the witnesses, we are compelled to mandate a retrial due to the necessity of ensuring the constitutional right to counsel during critical phases of a trial,” said acting Presiding Justice Helen I. Bendix in her ruling, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Gregory J. Weingart and Michelle C. Kim.
Heaps is currently incarcerated at California’s Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. He surrendered his medical license in March 2023 and was indicted in May 2021 on charges related to seven female patients. After being charged in 2019, he was ordered to cease practicing medicine as a condition of bail.
More than 500 lawsuits have been filed against Heaps and UCLA, with allegations that the institution failed to protect patients from known misconduct. In May 2022, attorneys for 312 of Heaps’ former patients announced a settlement of $374 million related to these abuse claims. This settlement followed a further resolution of $243.6 million involving around 200 other patients, as well as a previous federal settlement reaching $73 million that involved approximately 5,500 plaintiffs.
The legal actions allege that UCLA concealed Heaps’ sexual abuse, allowing him unrestricted access to female patients, many of whom were cancer patients.
In response to the allegations, UCLA stated in 2022, “The conduct alleged to have been committed by Heaps is reprehensible and contrary to our values. We are grateful to all those who came forward, and hope this settlement is one step toward providing some level of healing for the plaintiffs involved.”
The university further emphasized its commitment to maintaining a high standard of care that respects the dignity of every patient and ensuring their well-being to uphold public trust.
This case continues to evolve, and further updates are expected as new developments arise.
