Looks like Eric Weinberg will be trading in his scrubs for an orange jumpsuit. The executive producer and writer for hit TV show ‘Scrubs’ has been charged with 18 counts of sexual assault for allegedly luring women to photo shoots before engaging in non-consensual sexual acts.
According to NPR, Weinberg was arrested Tuesday on felony counts including rape, oral copulation, forcible sexual penetration, sexual battery by restraint, false imprisonment by use of violence, assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury and attempted forcible penetration with a foreign object, the Los Angeles DA’s office reports.
District Attorney George Gascón revealed that Weinberg allegedly assaulted five women between 2014 and 2019, but investigators reportedly believe there may be other victims dating back to the 1990s. Gascón spoke on the crimes at a news conference.
The defendant relied on his Hollywood credentials to lure young women for photo shoots where he allegedly sexually assaulted them. Power and influence can corrupt some to hurt others that often leads to a lifetime of trauma for those who are victimized.”
Weinberg allegedly walked up to two women in 2014, claiming he was a photographer. The women agrred to go to his home, where he allegedly sexually assaulted them. Just three years later, Weinberg reportedly “used the same ruse to bring a young woman back to his house where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.” The D.A. alleged he “also is accused of sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents in 2018 and 2019.”
Civil rights attorney Micha Star Liberty, who is representing multiple victims of Weinberg, spoke out about their resilience in a statement to PEOPLE.
I have the honor of representing a group of strong, talented, fearless women who have suffered enormous trauma at the hands of a rich and powerful perpetrator. Their collective search for justice and accountability starts with the alleged actions of Eric Weinberg, but will not be complete until his enablers and those [who] covered up his abuse are held responsible as well.”
Weinberg was released from custody on Tuesday on $5 million bond. His arraignment has been scheduled for October 25th.