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California surgeon, girlfriend face additional rape charges

Posted at 2:23 PM, Oct 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-17 20:19:50-04

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Prosecutors added criminal charges involving five additional victims Wednesday in the case of a California surgeon and his girlfriend who were previously charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women.

The Orange County district attorney's office said the additional charges include kidnapping and rape by use of drugs.

The new charges accuse Dr. Grant Robicheaux of sexually assaulting five additional women. His girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, is now charged in three additional assaults. Details were not immediately released.

Robicheaux, 38, and Riley, 31, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to all counts. A judge ordered their bail to be raised to $1 million each, up from $100,000 each.

Robicheaux once appeared in a reality TV show called "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male."

When the pair was originally charged last month, prosecutors said they received leads to more than a dozen possible additional victims.

Authorities said the two initial victims met Robicheaux and Riley at social events in Southern California, where they became intoxicated and ended up at Robicheaux's apartment.

Robicheaux could now face a term of more than 82 years to life in prison if convicted. Riley could face 63 years to life in prison if convicted.

Both had friends and family who walked up and hugged them during a break in the courtroom proceedings. During a bail discussion, Riley turned to see them in the gallery and fought back tears. Afterward, she cried in the courtroom while being hugged by supporters.

"Thanks for coming," she said.

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Associated Press reporter John Antczak contributed to this report from Los Angeles.