LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division mentioned Thursday that it has opened a prison investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations in opposition to Motown music luminary Smokey Robinson.
The division mentioned in a press release that its Particular Victims Bureau is “actively investigating criminal allegations” in opposition to Robinson. The assertion mentioned the probe is in its early levels, and no different particulars can be supplied.
Final week, 4 former housekeepers of Robinson filed a lawsuit alleging that he repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them whereas they labored for him.
The go well with filed in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom seeks not less than $50 million in damages over the alleged assaults, which the ladies say passed off between 2007 and 2024.
Robinson’s lawyer Chris Frost mentioned Tuesday the one cause for the go well with is “unadulterated avarice,” and beforehand referred to as it “an unsightly technique of attempting to extract cash from an 85-year-old American icon.”
John Harris and Herbert Hayden, the legal professionals for the ladies, say they’re happy to be taught that regulation enforcement is trying into the allegations.
“Our purchasers intend to completely cooperate with LASD’s ongoing investigation within the pursuit of in search of justice for themselves and others that will have been equally assaulted by him,” the legal professionals mentioned.
Robinson’s legal professional mentioned final week that the allegations “defy credulity” and are stuffed with inconsistencies.
The 4 girls, whose names haven’t been made public, every allege that Smokey Robinson would wait till he was alone with them in his Los Angeles home after which sexually assault and rape them, in some circumstances repeatedly over a few years. One lady mentioned she labored for Robinson from 2012 till 2024 and was assaulted not less than 20 instances. One other mentioned she labored for him from 2014 till 2020 and was assaulted not less than 23 instances.
Harris referred to as Robinson a “serial and sick rapist” who should be stopped.
When requested at a Could 6 information convention whether or not the ladies had talked to police, Hayden mentioned no, however felt the allegations merited regulation enforcement getting concerned.
All the accusers mentioned they finally stop over the assaults. And all mentioned they feared coming ahead over fears of retaliation, public disgrace and potential results on their immigration standing.
“We really feel assured {that a} dedication might be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing flawed, and that it is a determined try to prejudice public opinion and make much more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs had been beforehand in a position to create,” Frost mentioned.
Robinson was among the many greatest hitmakers of the Nineteen Sixties as a central a part of the Motown Data machine — each together with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, with songs together with “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”
He’s a member of each the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame and the Songwriters Corridor of Fame.
