The case had garnered international attention in the midst of a high-profile re-election campaign between then-Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Todd Spitzer, who now holds the position.
Prior to the review of the evidence, in a sworn deposition given in June 2019, Rackauckas said he had leveraged the case to bolster his re-election campaign.
Paul Bersebach/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty
The couple have long denied the sex crime charges, saying in a statement issued a month after their September 2018 arrest: “We unequivocally deny all allegations of non-consensual sex and absolutely deny any allegations that we have ever secretly drugged anyone for the purpose of having sex with them.”
Grant Robicheaux, Cerissa Riley.Paul Bersebach/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty
Recalling life before their arrest, they noted in the statement: “We had great friends, great lives and great careers that allowed us to make positive contributions to our community. We look forward to getting our lives back.”
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The state attorney general’s office is reviewing the judge’s recent decision to dismiss the sexual assault charges,The Associated Press reported.
Regardless, the couple – who still have drug charges pending – have not seen the last of a courtroom and are set to return July 19. Robicheaux is additionally charged with possessing an assault weapon, The Associated Press reported. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
