A former University of Southern California gynecologist pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting multiple women and is now free on $2 million bail.
George Tyndall, 76, appeared before Judge Larry Paul Fidler at the Criminal Court building in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, wearing a white button-down shirt with red detailing, a yellow handkerchief in his blazer pocket and a mask that partially covered his face. hides.
The disgraced ex-doctor was charged with 27 felonies – 18 counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and nine counts of sexual arousal by fraud, against 16 of his former patients. The Los Angeles Times reported.
Tyndall worked in the university’s health clinic for three decades and was accused of misconduct by 400 women over a seven-year period as the university’s only full-time gynecologist.
Investigators said all of his alleged crimes took place between 2009 and 2016. Many of his victims were as young as 18, 19 and 20 years old, officials said.
“That’s how he gets away with it… In their minds, they think what’s being done is right,” said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller.
Mueller added that Tyndall’s patients were “unable to resist” because they were unaware of the nature of what Tyndall was doing.
Tyndall’s attorney has requested a bail adjustment to $250,000. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 64 years. His next court date is September 15 Fox LA reported.
George Tyndall, 76, appeared in court Friday at the criminal court building in downtown Los Angeles wearing a white button-up shirt with red detailing, a yellow handkerchief in his blazer pocket and a mask that partially obscures his face.
Tyndall was accused of misconduct against 400 women over a seven-year period at the University of Southern California
Pictured: Many of Tyndall’s victims speak out about the horrific abuse they endured. Former patients described Tyndall as “unprofessional, creepy” or someone who made them feel “uncomfortable and violated,” says a report
Tyndall’s lawyer stated that his client “has been adamant from day 1 that he did not commit these alleged crimes,” the news outlet reported.
Tyndall’s case is the largest single-offender sexual assault investigation conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Los Angeles Times published an article in May 2018 exploring allegations of sexual abuse. After the story broke, hundreds of women came forward and accused Tyndall of sexual assault and racial discrimination.
A year later, in June 2019, he was charged and in September 2019 he surrendered his medical license, according to records from the Medical Board of California.
Many former patients described Tyndall as “unprofessional, creepy” or someone who made them feel “uncomfortable and violated,” according to a report.
Many complaints were made by students and staff reported in the LA Times story accusing Tyndall of allegedly photographing patients’ genitals and inappropriately touching women during pelvic exams.
Some patients even asked to stop seeing Tyndall and tried to switch healthcare providers.
Prosecutors first filed charges in 2019 related to 21 former patients, but had to drop counts related to five women who were no longer part of the case.
A 2019 photo of the humiliated ex-doctor in court at an earlier hearing
Chief prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller, told the news channel “we were unable to contact any of the victims and four victims informed us that they were opting out of the case.”
One of the alleged victims asked the judge to “speed up the process as much as possible,” adding that the victims “have been waiting a long time for justice,” the news channel said. reported.
Our day will come, justice will come. We will see Tyndall brought to justice and held accountable,” the alleged victim said outside the courthouse.
She added, “He’ll go to court and he’ll go to jail.”