The co-executive producer of the hit US comedy series Scrubs was charged with 18 counts of sexual assault.
According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Eric Weinberg is accused of using his “Hollywood credentials” to lure several young women to photo shoots before assaulting them.
The 62-year-old’s allegations include six counts of sexual penetration with the use of force, four counts of oral copulation, three counts of forced rape and two counts of sexual beating for restraint.
All stem from alleged incidents involving five women between 2014 and 2019.
He wasn’t working on Scrubs at the time of the alleged offenses, with the show ending in March 2010 after running for more than nine years.
Weinberg is also accused of forcibly assaulting that could result in severe physical injury, attempted sexual penetration by force, and violent false imprisonment.
On several occasions in 2014, he approached two women in public places and told them he was a photographer, according to the district attorney.
After communicating with each of the victims, they eventually went to his home, where he is accused of sexually assaulting them.
Weinberg would later use the same ploy to bring another young woman to his home and sexually assault her in 2017.
In 2018 and 2019, he is accused of sexually assaulting two other women in separate incidents.
“The defendant relied on his Hollywood credentials to lure young women for photo shoots, where he allegedly sexually assaulted them,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon.
“Power and influence can corrupt some to hurt others, which often leads to a life of trauma for those who are victims.”
The writer, who also worked on the Californication show, was arrested in July but he has since been released from prison after paying a $ 5 million (£ 4.4 million) bail.
He is expected to appear in court on October 25.
The case is still being investigated by the LAPD and other victims or anyone with information has been asked to contact investigators.
