LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former University of California, Los Angeles, gynecologist pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges Tuesday in connection with the sexual assault of several patients over his career, after an appeals court reversed his conviction earlier this year.
James Heaps was originally sentenced in 2023 to 11 years in prison after being convicted of five counts of sexual battery and penetration involving two patients. It was overturned by an appeals court in February, which ruled that Heaps was denied a fair trial because the judge did not share with his attorneys a note from the court’s foreman sharing concerns about a juror’s English proficiency.
Instead of going to trial again, Heaps pleaded guilty to 13 felonies involving a total of five victims and was again sentenced to 11 years in prison…