Former UCLA Gynecologist Faces Retrial Hearing in Pasadena Courtroom Friday

James Mason Heaps, the former UCLA campus gynecologist previously convicted of sex-related crimes, is set to appear in a Pasadena courtroom on Friday for a pretrial hearing on nine unresolved counts. 

Heaps, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for five sex-related counts involving two patients, will face the new hearing in Department F of the Pasadena Courthouse at 300 E. Walnut St.

The hearing comes after a jury deadlocked on nine counts in his previous trial, including three counts of sexual battery by fraud, four counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a patient. Heaps was acquitted of seven other counts involving two patients.

The charges stem from allegations of sexual misconduct between 2009 and 2018. Heaps was indicted in May 2021 on charges involving seven female patients.

The case has led to extensive civil litigation, with over 500 lawsuits filed against Heaps and UCLA. These suits have resulted in settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, accusing the university of failing to protect patients despite alleged awareness of Heaps’ misconduct.

Prosecutors are pursuing a retrial on the deadlocked counts, emphasizing the seriousness of the alleged crimes and seeking a final determination on these charges.

The retrial and ongoing legal proceedings reflect continued efforts to address unresolved allegations and provide justice for the victims involved in the case.