April 14, 2026: Former UCLA Doctor James Heaps Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assaults, Sentenced to Over a Decade in Prison

Heaps, who was originally convicted of these charges in 2023, had his conviction overturned in February 2026 due to a judicial error in the case

LOS ANGELES - James Heaps, 69, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender for life after he pleaded guilty today to sexually assaulting five female patients from 2011-2018 while working as an obstetrician-gynecologist at UCLA. Heaps pleaded at a pretrial hearing just two months after a California appeals court overturned his 2023 conviction due to an error by the trial judge.

"Today marks the second time that we're holding James Heaps responsible for the unconscionable crimes he committed while being entrusted with the safety of his patients," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "For years, Heaps exploited the sacred trust between a doctor and patient to prey on vulnerable victims during medical procedures. This sentence ensures that Heaps will finally be held accountable for the harm he inflicted under the guise of care. To the survivors: I hope today brings you closure knowing that the individual who violated your trust has been definitively brought to justice. To all survivors, please know that we believe you and we will fight for you."

James Heaps (dob 10/27/56) of Woodland Hills pleaded guilty today in case SA100560 to thirteen counts including: six felony counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, five felony counts of sexual battery by fraud, and two felony counts of sexual exploitation of a patient. Heaps was sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo.

In 2023, Heaps was convicted by a jury of three felony counts of sexual battery by fraud and two felony counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. He was sentenced in 2023 to 11 years in prison.

Heaps, who was a longtime gynecologist and faculty member at the university, sexually assaulted the victims over the years he practiced on campus.

The case was prosecuted by Head Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers and Deputy District Attorney Rosa Zavala and was investigated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.