UCLA gynecologist pleads guilty to 13 sexual abuse charges and is sentenced to 11 years in prison

The Guardian US News
by Associated Press
April 14, 2026
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

UCLA gynecologist James Heaps pleaded guilty to 13 sexual abuse charges and received an 11-year prison sentence.

AI Summary

UCLA gynecologist James Heaps pleaded guilty to 13 felony sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Tuesday. This plea stems from the sexual assault of several patients during his career. Heaps had previously been sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2023 after being convicted of five counts of sexual battery and penetration. However, an appeals court overturned that verdict in February, ruling he was denied a fair trial. The current sentencing for 13 charges reaffirms the 11-year prison term.

What's Being Done

James Heaps pleaded guilty to 13 felony sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Alleged white supremacist pleads guilty in fire at Tennessee center that trained civil rights icons - AP News
Civil Rights

Alleged white supremacist pleads guilty in fire at Tennessee center that trained civil rights icons - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOZTVRZkgzeEpQUXROVE1NSWRvYzZPUzFCcGFVWGdIR1ZYa2FldnBJTldwUWlhV3d6dzZ4UFJydkh0TkhPeUZPMnZXWUVTZTRBQVRzUTEyUzBuQjMtd2FHV0tyV1NCMFFtS1BLZDZZYV9ES3o4YXFjdThITjRGZmFmYXlMc3puMl9DSU5qQ284RFRndEZlWG53YVBUQW1MdHVSR2pjbWhoX1ZkcGcwVlE?oc=5" target="_blank">Alleged white supremacist pleads guilty in fire at Tennessee center that trained civil rights icons</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 13
An Iowa woman pleads not guilty in the 2011 killing of real estate agent - AP News
Civil Rights

An Iowa woman pleads not guilty in the 2011 killing of real estate agent - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPcm5NT0dkUmhGZEg0a2o2NkpTRDJGclNZWjhjRzZWS2lmWl9ERW5UeGgyTTJfcG9sZkh4M1RxY2pncFJwQ09IeGNCVDc3VUhKMEktS3p5c21ZSUZnMmt2bUxoZUxISTdVMHUwd1JJZjhVMnlqZUV0QW4wZGNuV2R1VHBjR29qbzV0azZWNzJmN1FhQW1iQXI3NWNFczRnb2R5dmtZd2JR?oc=5" target="_blank">An Iowa woman pleads not guilty in the 2011 killing of real estate agent</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 10
White supremacist pleads guilty to Tennessee civil rights center arson
Civil Rights

White supremacist pleads guilty to Tennessee civil rights center arson

<p>Regan Prater admits to setting blaze at Highlander center and bid to aid Hezbollah. His sentencing is set for September</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>A man linked to white supremacist movements pleaded guilty on Monday to setting a fire that destroyed an office at a historic social justice center in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/tennessee">Tennessee</a> with ties to champions of the US civil rights movements, a court document shows.</p><p>Regan Prater also pleaded guilty to attempting to aid a foreign terrorist organization for efforts to provide the militant group Hezbollah “a list of personally identifiable infor...

The Guardian US NewsApr 14
Victim of ‘disgusting paedophile’ serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sex abuse tells of ‘lost decades’
Civil Rights

Victim of ‘disgusting paedophile’ serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sex abuse tells of ‘lost decades’

<p>Woman tells court ‘I lost my teenage self’ from abuse by teacher William ‘Rob’ Gilfillan, already in prison for offences against daughter </p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>A woman who was repeatedly sexually assaulted in the 1980s by her high school PE teacher has told a court how the man’s actions resulted in her life being changed “negatively for decades”.</p><p>In December, William “Rob” Gilfillan was <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/former-pe-teacher-and-sports-coach-william-rob-gilfillan-68-unmasked-as-serial-child-sexual-offender/news-story/307b01d147ea6b6a6de9add4b6db5c0e">found guilty of indecent assault</a> of a person under 16 and sexual penetration of a child under 16. The five cou...

The Guardian World NewsApr 10
Guatemalan man pleads guilty in federal court in crash that killed over 50 in Mexico
Global

Guatemalan man pleads guilty in federal court in crash that killed over 50 in Mexico

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court and acknowledged his involvement in an attempt to illegally smuggle migrants to the U.S. when a truck crashed in Mexico in 2021, killing more than 50.

NPRApr 9
Gilgo Beach serial killer pleads guilty to killing 8 women, prosecutors say - Gothamist
Civil Rights

Gilgo Beach serial killer pleads guilty to killing 8 women, prosecutors say - Gothamist

GothamistApr 8
Read Next
Bodycam video shows St. Louis police officer shooting teen in back of head
Civil Rights

Bodycam video shows St. Louis police officer shooting teen in back of head

Body camera video shows a St. Louis police officer shoot Emeshyon Wilkins in the back of the head as he fled, contradicting an earlier police statement.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources