Ex-UCLA gynecologist James Mason Heaps could get a retrial

PREV. COVERAGE: Former UCLA gynecologist sentenced to 11 years

Former UCLA campus gynecologist James Heaps, who was convicted of sex-related charges involving two patients, was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.

BURBANK, Calif. - A judge Friday allowed the prosecution's request to retry former UCLA campus gynecologist James Mason Heaps on nine remaining sex-related charges on which jurors deadlocked last year involving former patients.

Superior Court Judge Michael D. Carter denied a defense motion to dismiss the deadlocked counts without prejudice.

The sides are due back in court Nov. 13 for a motion by the defense to continue the case.

"This is a serious crime," Carter said, adding that he believes both sides have a right to a final determination.

Heaps, who remains in custody, was sentenced to 11 years in state prison after being found guilty in October 2022 of charges involving two women. He was present at Friday's hearing.

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Heaps' attorney, Tracy Green, had objected to a request by the District Attorney's Office for a retrial and asked Carter at an Aug. 28 hearing to dismiss the remaining counts in the interests of justice.

Heaps, now 67, was found guilty of three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. Jurors acquitted him of charges involving two other patients, and deadlocked on the other nine counts that involve four alleged victims, including one of the women named in a count on which he was convicted.

Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers told the judge in August that the office's chief deputy advised her that the prosecution would be going forward with a retrial if the court agreed. She told the judge that she and colleague Rosa Zavala "may decide not to proceed on one or two of them, but definitely on the ones that hung 9-3 for guilt."

"I know that there were maybe one or two that hung a different way and so we're looking at that," the prosecutor told the judge in August. "But, as of today, we are proceeding ... with the court's permission, of course, (on) all of the hung counts."

Just before sentencing Heaps to the 11-year state prison term in April, the judge noted that he had received at least 75 character letters on the defendant's behalf, and said that Heaps was "by all accounts a world-renowned gynecologist specializing in oncology." He said the letters sent on behalf of Heaps were filled with stories about him saving the lives of his patients.

"But this reputation also serves as an aggravating factor because it caused the victims in this case to entrust their bodies and lives to him," the judge said. "It was because of this reputation that he was able to take advantage of the vulnerable position that these victims were in."

The judge subsequently rejected the defense's bid to release Heaps on bail while he appealed his conviction. The judge said at a hearing in May that he found "by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is a flight risk."

Heaps was indicted in May 2021 on charges involving the seven female patients. He surrendered his medical license in March.

Heaps -- who was ordered in 2019 to "cease and desist from the practice of medicine as a condition of bail" after he was first charged that year -- served as a gynecologist/oncologist, affiliated with UCLA, for nearly 35 years. At various times, he saw patients at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and at his office at 100 Medical Plaza.

At one time, he was reportedly the highest-paid physician in the UC system and had treated about 6,000 patients, attorneys said.

Over 500 lawsuits were filed against Heaps and UCLA, accusing the school of failing to protect patients after becoming aware of the misconduct.

In May 2022, attorneys for 312 former patients of Heaps announced a $374 million settlement of abuse lawsuits against the University of California.

The settlement came on top of a $243.6 million resolution of lawsuits involving about 200 patients announced in February 2022, and a $73 million settlement of federal lawsuits previously reached involving roughly 5,500 plaintiffs.

The lawsuits alleged that UCLA actively and deliberately concealed Heaps' sexual abuse of patients. UCLA continued to allow Heaps to have unfettered sexual access to female patients -- many of whom were cancer patients -- at the university, plaintiffs' attorneys alleged in the lawsuits.

UCLA issued a statement last year saying, "This agreement, combined with earlier settlements involving other plaintiffs, resolves the vast majority of the claims alleging sexual misconduct by James Heaps, a former UCLA Health physician.

"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.

"We are dedicated to providing the highest quality care that respects the dignity of every patient. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure our patients' well-being in order to maintain the public's confidence and trust," the statement continued.