LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office mentioned Thursday it has launched a felony investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault towards Smokey Robinson.
In an announcement, the division mentioned its particular victims workplace was “actively investigating felony claims” towards Robinson. The probe is in its early levels and no different particulars shall be supplied, the assertion mentioned.
Last week, 4 former housekeepers from Robinson filed a lawsuit alleging that Motown music celeb repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them whereas working for him.
The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at the least $50 million in damages for the assault that girls say occurred between 2007 and 2024.
Robinson’s legal professionals didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon the felony investigation, however beforehand referred to as the allegations “vile” and “false” and described the lady’s lawsuit as “ugly methods to extract cash from the 85-year-old American icon.”
Women’s legal professionals John Harris and Herbert Hayden say they’re happy to study that legislation enforcement is contemplating the allegations.
“Our shoppers will totally cooperate with the continuing investigation of LASD in pursuit of in search of justice for themselves and others who could have been attacked by him as nicely,” the lawyer mentioned.
Robinson’s lawyer, Chris Frost, final week mentioned the allegations had been “ignoring credibility” and had been stuffed with contradictions.
The 4 ladies whose names are usually not disclosed every declare to attend till Smokey Robinson is alone at his Los Angeles residence, then assault and rape them typically over and over through the years. One girl mentioned she labored for Robinson from 2012 to 2024 and was assaulted at the least 20 instances. Another mentioned she labored for him from 2014 to 2020 and was assaulted at the least 23 instances.
Harris has to cease Robinson, calling him a “sequential, sick rapist.”
When requested if the lady had spoken to police at a May 6 press convention, Hayden mentioned no, however felt the allegations deserved legislation enforcement.
All the accused mentioned they finally stopped the assault. And they mentioned they had been afraid of retaliation, public disgrace, and transferring ahead in concern of attainable influence on their immigrant standing.
Robinson was one of many largest hitmakers to be the guts of the Motown Records machine within the Sixties. Both his group The Miracles and Solo Artist had songs resembling “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”
He is a member of each the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.