James Heaps served as a gynecologist and oncologist affiliated with U.C.L.A. for nearly 35 years. At various times, he saw patients at the Ronald Reagan U.C.L.A. Medical Center and at his office at 100 Medical Plaza. Heaps was reportedly at one time the highest paid physician in the entire U.C. system and had treated approximately 6,000 patients.
In October 2022, Heaps was convicted of three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. Those charges involved two former patients. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in April 2023.
But that conviction did not stand. On February 6, 2026, the California Second District Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial in the published case of People versus Heaps -B329296 (February 2026). The key issue on appeal was a violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights, specifically the right to a fair trial and an impartial jury. During deliberations, the trial court received a note indicating that an alternate juror had limited English proficiency, which potentially affected their ability to understand the proceedings and participate fully. The court did not disclose this note to the parties or allow input from the defense and prosecution before proceeding. That procedural error was deemed reversible.
So following that reversal, Heaps pleaded guilty this April in case number SA100560 to thirteen counts. Those counts include 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. The plea came at a pretrial hearing just two months after the appeals court overturned his original conviction.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo sentenced Heaps to 11 years in prison. He is also required to register as a sex offender for life. The charges involved five female patients who were assaulted between 2011 and 2018 while Heaps was working as an obstetrician and gynecologist at U.C.L.A.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman commented on the sentence, saying, quote, 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, end quote. Hochman added that for years, Heaps exploited the sacred trust between a doctor and patient to prey on vulnerable victims during medical procedures. He said the sentence ensures Heaps will finally be held accountable for the harm he inflicted under the guise of care. Hochman addressed the survivors directly, expressing hope that the outcome brings them closure, and stating, quote, to all survivors, please know that we believe you and we will fight for you, end quote.
This criminal case is just one piece of a much larger scandal at U.C.L.A. involving Heaps. Hundreds of women accused him of inappropriate exams and abuse over many years, leading to his removal from practice and massive civil settlements.
More than 500 lawsuits were filed against Heaps and U.C.L.A., accusing the school of failing to protect patients after becoming aware of the misconduct. During the course of the criminal prosecution, attorneys for 312 former patients announced a $374 million settlement of abuse lawsuits against the University of California on May 24, 2022. That came on top of a $243.6 million resolution involving about 200 patients announced in February of that year, and a $73 million settlement of federal lawsuits involving roughly 5,500 plaintiffs. By that point, U.C.L.A. had paid out approximately $700 million in total settlements to hundreds of former patients over related sexual misconduct claims spanning decades.
And for context, this is not the only case of its kind in the U.C. system or in higher education more broadly. In March 2021, in a similar case, U.S.C. agreed to pay more than $1.1 billion to about 17,000 former patients of former campus gynecologist George Tyndall. That remains the largest sex abuse payout in higher education history.