LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court has overturned the conviction of a former campus gynecologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, on sex abuse charges.
James Heaps was sentenced in 2023 to 11 years in prison for sexually abusing female patients.
The Monday ruling ordered the case to be sent back for retrial. A three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Heaps was denied a fair trial because his defense counsel was not made aware of a note pointing out concerns that one juror lacked sufficient English to carry out their duties.
The university made nearly $700 million in payouts over lawsuits connected to the allegations against Heaps.
